The University of Windsor remains open and classes continue during a CUPE local 1393 work stoppage that began in the early hours of Sunday, September 8.  Students, parents, faculty and staff are encouraged to visit uwindsor.ca/bargainingunits for answers to commonly asked questions and updates as they are available. This local represents 281 technical, trades and professional staff.
 
Dr. Alan Wildeman, President and Vice Chancellor said, “Over the summer, we have been working with all of our staff unions to find agreements that are respectful of our employees and also fall within the parameters of our fiscal constraints.”
 
The University’s fiscal constraints have been widely communicated to the campus community in regular updates, most recently in the President’s update #19 released at the end of August and available on his website. http://www1.uwindsor.ca/president/system/files/PresidentsUpdate19.pdf
These fiscal constraints are not unique to the University of Windsor, and across Ontario and across Canada similar budget challenges are being faced.
 
Payroll expenditures are $192M or 78% of UWindsor’s budget. Local 1393 wages average $73,625 per year plus an additional 30% for benefits.  Their most recent collective agreement concluded on March 31, 2013.  It contained 0% base increases and one-time lump sum payments of $1,000 for the first two years of the agreement, and a 3% increase in the third year.
 
“The University sought no wage roll backs or changes to language on outsourcing with CUPE 1393,” said Wildeman. “It has always been our goal all along to seek collective agreements that will work for our employees within the fiscal constraints we have.”
 
The University will continue to do everything it can to minimize the disruption on campus.