ASP bargaining opens

ASP bargaining opens

November 8, 2012 at 11:54 AM

On November 5 - 6, 2012 the ASP bargaining committee met with the company to open negotiations.  The current collective agreement expires on December 31, 2012.

CAW National Representative Joel Fournier led the discussions for the union and ASP Chief Executive Officer Dean Lovric spoke on behalf of the company.

The negotiations are being conducted with the aid of a federal conciliation officer Paul MacDonnell, who was appointed by Labour Minister Lisa Raitt. His role is to facilitate the negotiations and to report back to the minister of any developments or lack thereof.

The conciliation officer urged both parties to agree to a process that included binding arbitration. Arbitration would only take place if the parties could not reach an agreement to renew a new collective agreement. The union and the company have agreed to binding arbitration if the negotiations reach an impasse.

Many non-monetary administrative proposals were agreed to during the initial talks, with the goal to focus on the more contentious issues when bargaining resumes November 15 and 16, 2012. Outstanding items will include but are not limited to: monetary, vacations, sick days, scheduling, seniority, hours of work, overtime, employee status and grievance procedures.

The talks at the bargaining table were conducted in a respectful and courteous fashion; both the CAW and ASP would like to achieve a new collective agreement without third party intervention. We will continue to keep you informed.

In solidarity,

Your ASP Bargaining Committee:
Savithri Alahari
Jesse Jackson
Gurpreet Malhi
Joel Fournier, CAW National Representative
Ashley Watkins, Executive Assistant