Concordia responds to arbitrator's holiday-period decision
As many of you know, the Concordia University Support Staff Union (CUSSU) filed three grievances regarding the interpretation of a particular clause in the collective agreement between the CUSSU and the University, pertaining to the December 24, 25 and January 1, 2 holidays when these days fall on a Saturday or Sunday. Earlier this month, the labour arbitrator tasked with hearing these grievances rendered his decision and upheld the grievances.
Given the interest in and potential impact of this decision, I am writing to advise you of the University’s position on this matter. Following careful consideration, the University will be asking the Superior Court to review the labour arbitrator’s decision. Our request is based on a number of important practical and legal arguments. As such, no action will be taken regarding the CUSSU grievances until a decision is rendered by the Superior Court.
As a result, the current holiday schedule, published earlier this year, will be maintained. The University will be closed from December 24, 2011, to January 2, 2012, inclusively, and will re-open Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
Additional grievances from four other bargaining units have been filed regarding the same issue. The University will continue with the grievance arbitration processes as provided for in the respective collective agreements since the CUSSU arbitration decision pertains solely to CUSSU employees and the wording in their collective agreement.
Maître Bram Freedman
Vice-President, Institutional Relations and Secretary-General