CUPE 2361

Board of Governors ratifies CUPE 2361 agreement – October 16, 2024

Western’s Board of Governors has ratified a new collective agreement with members of CUPE 2361, the union representing caretakers, landscape technicians and trade workers.

The tentative agreement was reached October 9 and ratified by CUPE 2361 members October 11.

The university welcomes these employees' return to work this week.

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CUPE 2361 ratifies tentative agreement – October 11, 2024

Members of CUPE 2361, the union representing caretakers, landscape technicians and trade workers at Western, have voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached earlier this week.

The University will now take the agreement to the Board of Governors for a ratification vote.

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Western University and CUPE 2361 reach tentative agreement – October 9, 2024

Western University and CUPE 2361 have reached a tentative agreement, which the negotiating teams have jointly agreed to recommend to their respective parties.

The agreement will require the ratification of CUPE 2361 members and Western’s Board of Governors.

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CUPE 2361 Bargaining Update: Information for the campus community – August 28, 2024

Despite best efforts, negotiations between Western and CUPE 2361, representing Building Services and Facilities Operations employees, have not produced a settlement and CUPE members are in a legal strike position as of 12:01 a.m., Friday, August 30.

Western has detailed plans in place, and we are committed to ensuring the fall term runs as smoothly as possible.

The university is open, and all activities will continue.

During this time, operating hours for Campus Recreation and the Thompson Recreation Centre will be slightly modified and student access will be the top priority. More information will be available on the Sports and Recreation website.

Whether you are walking, biking or driving, give yourself extra time coming to and leaving campus. Movement may be slower due to picket lines as well as some campus road closures intended to ensure the safety of the community during the busy start of fall term.

Motorists who do not have a specific reason to be on or around main campus are encouraged to avoid the area during the strike.

If you travel by transit, know that during a labour disruption London Transit buses will not enter campus but will have extra stops on the periphery of main campus. Information on bus route detours as well as real-time route information will be available on the London Transit website.

Students moving into residence will receive detailed instructions from Western’s Housing team, on Friday, August 30.

You can find updates, including FAQs, on the Contract Negotiations website and on Western’s social media channels.

Information about what to expect and how to navigate picket lines is also available in the FAQs on this website.

We will provide updates on any significant changes.

Western values and respects the important contributions CUPE 2361 members make to the life of our university, and we remain committed to reaching an agreement.

Sincerely,

Lynn Logan,
Vice-President (Operations and Finance)

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CUPE 2361 Bargaining Update – August 28, 2024

Late last week, Western and CUPE 2361 agreed to participate in mediation sessions on August 27 and 28, with the help of an external mediator.

During these sessions Western continued to demonstrate its commitment to reaching a deal – further enhancing an already comprehensive and highly competitive compensation package.

During mediation, Western’s latest offer included:

• A four-year wage progression with an average increase of 5.3% in each year of the four-year deal
• In the first year, all members will earn between $52,000 and $99,000 annually

Some of the proposed hourly rates, at the end of the four-year agreement would include:

• Caretakers earning more than $28 an hour
• Landscape technicians earning more than $34 an hour
• Electricians, plumbers and other trades earning more than $46 an hour

All of this is on top of a strong foundation of existing compensation and benefits outlined in our previous update.

It is disappointing that we have not been successful in reaching a deal.

The work of CUPE 2361 members is highly valued and what Western has offered, reflects this.

The university has proposed one of the most competitive compensation packages in the university sector.

The university will remain open, and all activities will continue.

We will continue to keep the campus community updated.

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Western and CUPE 2361 agree to mediation – August 24, 2024

To help facilitate reaching an agreement, Western and CUPE 2361 have agreed to enter mediation sessions on August 27 and 28, 2024 with the assistance of a mediator.

The university remains committed to reaching a deal with this employee group, enabling its members to continue providing important services to the community.

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Western strengthens commitments to CUPE 2361 employees – August 22, 2024

Legal strike date set for August 30

Since May 2024, Western and the CUPE 2361 bargaining group have met six times to negotiate a new collective agreement.

For Western these negotiations have been an opportunity to further strengthen the total compensation offered to Building Services and Facilities Operations employees – an offer that reflects one of the most competitive compensation packages in the university sector.

Western values and respects the critical role CUPE 2361 employees play and the services they provide to the community, which is why we’ve put such a strong offer on the table.

Western’s latest offer included average salary increases of more than 4.5% in each year over the four-year deal. The offer also included doubling the health care spending accounts for individual and family expense claims, plus the addition of increased mental health services.

Western’s offer builds on an already strong compensation and benefits package for CUPE 2361 members, which includes:

• Paid vacation starting at three weeks per year, with the current offer to increase to four weeks after four years of service
• Flexible altered work weeks, plus an additional eight paid days off including: two floating holidays, three caregiver days and up to three Western-designated days off during the end of year holiday period
• Pension contributions for employees – Western contributes 3X the employee’s required contributions
• Comprehensive family coverage for extended health and dental benefits
• Post-retirement benefits, providing lifetime health and dental care coverage as well as emergency travel assistance
• Protection against income loss through an illness or injury with plans that include short-term and long-term disability
• A flexible educational assistance program to pursue a degree at Western, and/or career courses to build on existing skills or gain new ones, reimbursed up to $2,420 annually

The university is making every effort possible to avoid a strike. We hope to reach an agreement with this valuable employee group. We’re also working to minimize any disruption a strike could cause in the event we’re unable to reach a tentative agreement.

Upon the request of CUPE 2361, the Ministry of Labour has issued a No-Board Report. This is a normal step in the collective bargaining process and means that CUPE 2361 members will be in a legal strike position as of Friday, August 30 at 12:01 a.m. if an agreement has not been reached.

If the union decides to strike, campus will remain open, and all academic and research activities will continue. The university has detailed plans in place to ensure the fall term runs as smoothly as possible, including move-in and Orientation Week activities.

The health and safety of the Western community and supporting our students will be our top priorities.

We will continue to keep the community informed.

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CUPE 2361 Bargaining Update – August 7, 2024

The University and the CUPE 2361 negotiating teams have been in collective bargaining since May 23, 2024, and have met six times. Negotiations are for renewal of the current collective agreement that is scheduled to end on June 30, 2024.

The University is committed to achieving a negotiated agreement with CUPE 2361.