Campus Police labour union continues negotiations with U of T administration

The union representing U of T Campus Police, Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 519, is bargaining for a renewed agreement with the university since the last one expired on June 30, 2017. However, the expired agreement will continue to be in effect until either a new agreement is signed or conciliation proceedings have been completed. Bargaining began on March 30, 2018 to replace the old agreement, which was last struck on July 1, 2013. No updates regarding the process have been made available on the university’s website as of December 14, 2017.

The Varsity spoke with Kelly Hannah-Moffat, U of T’s Vice-President Human Resources and Equity, regarding future bargaining between the union and the university.

“As always, our goal is to have productive and constructive rounds of bargaining to reach a collective agreement,” said Hannah-Moffat in an email. “The University and the Union have had three bargaining dates so far and are scheduled to meet again on May 31, 2018.”

The union’s collective agreement outlines union representation, labour relations, and employee benefits. Article 1 of the old agreement stated, “The Employer recognizes the Union as the exclusive collective bargaining agent with respect to all matters properly arising under the terms of this Agreement for all constables, security officers and security guards employed by the University of Toronto, save and except Sergeants, persons above the rank of Sergeant and persons currently covered by any other bargaining unit.”

Most notably, Article 5.01 of the expired agreement covers the event of a strike amongst employees and the labour union: “The Union agrees and undertakes that there will be no strikes, as defined in the Labour Relations Act and the Employer agrees and undertakes that there will be no lockout as defined in the Labour Relations Act during the term of this Agreement.”

Campus Police has three stations located on the St. George, Scarborough, and Mississauga campuses. It protects the safety of roughly 80,000 students, faculty, and staff across three campuses.

Editor’s Note (June 1): This article has been updated to clarify that the expired collective agreement will stay in effect until either a new agreement is signed or conciliation proceedings have been completed.