CREW Rally; February 5, 2025
Bargaining Newsletter #12:
Concordia works because WE do.
We have a strike mandate. Time for Concordia to take us seriously.
Last week, CREW members decisively approved—with 95.06% voting in favour—an unlimited strike mandate. This mandate constitutes a firm rejection of the employer’s recent counter-offer, which would leave us substantially underpaid and lacking solid job security.
On Monday, the Bargaining Committee met with Concordia. Despite considerable effort on our side to negotiate in good faith and outline a deal acceptable to CREW members, they would only commit to presenting a global counter-offer by the end of the day on Thursday, February 27.
We hope this new offer will be a meaningful step towards meeting the needs of TAs and RAs at Concordia to live and work in dignity. However, the Employer has already indicated their unwillingness to properly address our concerns, even knowing this risks a strike. We will be meeting with the Employer and our conciliator this Friday, February 28, to discuss their offer and determine a path forward.
Advance work pressure
With the possibility of a strike, you may be pressured by a supervisor to complete work tasks in advance. Please know that you are not obligated to work extra ahead of a possible work stoppage. In fact, the Quebec labour code strictly prohibits performing work tasks in contravention of a duly-enacted strike action. If you find yourself pressured to work beyond the hours established in your contract and/or workload form, email grievance@crew-csn.com for more information and assistance.
Our union stands to win historic and life-changing improvements to our working conditions, and our mandate overwhelmingly reflects that our members are ready to do what it takes to secure them. At the end of the day, Concordia only works IF we do: let’s see if they’re ready to give us what we need to make that happen.