The Colleges have circulated a memo to faculty stating that they will not bargain further if this offer is rejected by faculty.
Of course, before the vote, management has to say they will have no more to offer. Anything else would make no sense. This is NOT the first time management has made such a statement.
Before the strike vote, the Colleges wrote that ” a strike mandate will not give the colleges more money or flexibility to reach a settlement.” After the strike vote, the first thing the Colleges moved on was salary.
Only an acceptance vote on the current offer would close the door to negotiating a better settlement. If the offer is rejected there will be bargaining as always.
The Colleges Collective Bargaining Act (s.4) requires the Colleges to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement. If there is a rejection, the provincially appointed mediator will call both sides back to the bargaining table.
If there is no settlement, the union will maintain pressure for binding arbitration. That pressure will also add to the incentive to table an offer that can be recommended.
Jack Wilson
1st VP, OPSEU local 415