Question

Your group represents the Education Workers Union (CUPE) in the ongoing negotiations with the Provincial Govemment. CUPE represents early childhood education educators, educational assistants and custodians Who have threatened a strike. CUPE is demanding an annual wage increase exceeding 11%. To avoid the strike the Provincial Govemment just introduced a Bill in the Legislature invoking the Notwithstanding Clause. Since doing so the CUPE has made a Counter-Offer. Prepare a Negotiation Plan not to exceed 3 pages. In undertaking your intemet research put your mind to What you think makes up the bargaining mix. What should be target on each issue, resistance points, etc. Your objective in the group negotiation is to secure a Collective Agreement with a reasonable wage settlement as well as reasonable outcomes on other demands of the CUPE Union. In addition to the wage raise demanded in excess of 11% by CUPE, class size and the number of paid sick days, and paid time for extra-cumicular work after hours are also on the negotiating table. If the Province agrees to reduce class size by one student that is equivalent in cost to 0.5% raise. If the Province agrees to add 5 extra paid sick days that is equivalent in cost to a 1% raise. If the Province agrees to pay educators for extracurricular after hours work that is equivalent in cost to 0.5% raise. Also, there has been a lot of negative press associated with the Province's action to invoke the notwithstanding clause and impose an agreement on the CUPE Union. Although legal, by invoking the notwithstanding clause the Provincial Government risks voters voting them out of office at the next Provincial election. On the other hand, if the Province does not avert a strike, then COVID weary parents who will have to scramble and pay for daycare will be outraged. In your negotiations give be mindful of recent inflation numbers as well as other wage settlements reported in the media. Also note, that part of your group mark will be determined based on how your outcome compares to the outcomes of other groups. Negotiation Planning Guide 1. What are the issues in the upcoming negotiation?

Answer 1

The negotiation plan involves addressing wage increases, class size, paid sick days, and compensation for extra-curricular work, taking into account the fiscal costs, political repercussions of the Notwithstanding Clause, inflation rates, and public sentiment to achieve a fair collective agreement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Negotiation Plan for Collective Bargaining

The negotiation between the Education Workers Union (CUPE) and the Provincial Government involves several critical issues. The primary concerns for the union include securing a reasonable wage settlement with an annual increase exceeding 11%, addressing class size, increasing the number of paid sick days, and compensation for extra-curricular work after hours. Our negotiation plan must also consider the negative implications of invoking the Notwithstanding Clause by the government, the impact of a potential strike on COVID-weary parents, recent inflation numbers, and other wage settlements in the media. It is essential to strategize a bargaining mix that considers the costs associated with each demand.

To navigate this complex landscape, we will prioritize the following negotiation points:

1. 
   
3. Analyze the fiscal equivalence of our demands; reducing class size by one student, adding extra paid sick days, and compensating for after-hours work.
4. 
   
6. Assess the public sentiment towards the use of the Notwithstanding Clause and its potential political repercussions.
7. 
   
9. Consider the recent inflation rates and how they affect the demands of the union.
10. 
    
12. Determine our resistance points for each issue and formulate counter-offers accordingly.

Our objective is to achieve a fair and balanced collective agreement that addresses the unions' demands while considering the fiscal limitations and political fallout for the Provincial Government. We aim for a negotiation outcome that will be favorable when compared to other groups' settlements.