Almost two dozen support staff at the University of Sudbury, who are looking for their first collective agreement, could be on the picket lines Friday if a deal isn?t worked out.
The office staff, maintenance and support workers appliced for a received certification with Local 598 of the Mine Mill/CAW in 2004.
The workers are in a legal strike position as of midnight Thursday, but Local 598 president Rick Grylls said the bargaining committee has the option of
extending the deadline and will consider that move if progress is being made.
Working out a first collective agreement for any new members is always difficult, said Grylls.
?Management tends to hate to give up what they consider power...the thought of losing any kind of power tends to frighten management personnel,? he said.
The union is looking ?for a fair package? where management must be held accountable for decisions it makes and be willing to allow for things like
grievance procedures, said Grylls.
Negotiations are also dealing with money issues and normal contract debates over benefits and pension packages.
The University of Sudbury is being represented by lawyer Brian Gatien during this set of negotiations.
Gatien was in contract negotiations Tuesday and could not be reached for comment at Northern Life press deadline.
A member of the union?s bargaining committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there has been progress, but both sides remain far apart from reaching a first collective agreement.
