By Brendan Wagner

SIAST contract negotiations hit a wall

Jan 22, 2011 | 6:56 AM

It looks like the gulf between SIAST and its employees' union is widening.

After mediation failed to hammer out a new collective agreement, the school has tabled a final offer of 5.5 per cent over three years to its instructors and support staff.

“I'm privileged to work with a great crew of folks, and I wanted to make sure that people knew the situation,” said Dr. Bob McCulloch, president and CEO of SIAST, who sent a letter to all the employees earlier this week, urging them to vote on the offer.

“Quite frankly, we wanted to move forward. I'm concerned about students and programs and opportunity costs if we don't,” he said.

But the SGEU is in no hurry to vote on the offer.

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“They do have some right to communicate but it's a breach of their duty to bargain in good faith to a conclusion,” remarked Jim Steele, chair of the SGEU's Academic Negotiating Committee.

Steele added the offer isn't close to what they're looking for. The union's strike notice is still in effect, although he won't say if walking off the job is an option right now.

Union leaders will meet in a few days to decide on their next move.

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