Toronto - June 1, 2020 — The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO), which represents the 1300 members of the support staff bargaining unit (PSUO/SSUO) at the University of Ottawa, is urging the university to abandon its stalling tactics, return to the bargaining table, and engage in meaningful negotiations.

After months of bargaining, the university has asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board to conduct a vote among union members on the university’s most recent offer. While the option to request a one-time “last offer vote” is available to employers under the Labour Relations Act, it’s a step that is very seldom taken.

“We have no doubt that our members will decisively reject the university’s offer,” said PSUO/SSUO President Marcelle Desmornes. “This is, after all, virtually the same offer to which our members responded with an overwhelming strike vote in October.  Rather than pursuing meaningful discussion at the bargaining table, the university has demonstrated an appalling lack of respect for our members, for our bargaining team, and for the collective bargaining process.”

“This move will not resolve the outstanding issues, and will only continue to sour relations between our members and the university,” said Desmornes.

“This is a grave miscalculation and an entirely unproductive move on the part of the University of Ottawa,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof. “PSUO/SSUO members have already made it clear that they have no intention of accepting a bad offer, full of concessions. If the University of Ottawa is looking for a fair deal that’s acceptable to its support staff, it needs to reconsider its position, go back to the table, and engage in honest, meaningful discussions.”