Concordia professional union members and university come to agreement

The union representing 600 Concordia staff members said Thursday that they had approved an agreement in principle with the university.

It includes hybrid work guidelines in a new collective agreement – which was their main demand.

The Concordia University’s Professional Employees Union (CUPEU-CSN), said members now have a minimum of 30 per cent remote work over a two-week period. And for employees that already benefited from more remote days, the new agreement also secures an end to arbitrary management decisions. 

The union members had walked off the job earlier this month.

“This achievement is the outcome of  relentless mobilization from our members, who fought not only for a better work-life balance but also to leave a legacy for future generations of professionals graduating from our university,” explains Shoshana Kalfon, president of the Concordia University Professional Employees Union-CSN (CUPEU-CSN). 

The union represents Concordia university staff that includes advisors, coordinators and psychologists.

“For a year, Concordia University maintained an anachronistic posture that prevented the union from broaching the subject of hybrid work in their negotiations. The CSN is glad the management has come  to its senses as hybrid work is here to stay in professional workplaces,” explains Caroline Senneville, president of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN).

“Let’s not forget that the framing of hybrid work in the collective agreement is  a foundation on which to build in future negotiations. The union opened a door that won’t be closed any time soon,” explains Jessica Goldschleger, president of the Fédération des professionnèles-CSN (FP-CSN).

CityNews has reached out to Concordia University for comment, and they said in an email, “We are very happy that we reached a tentative agreement that addresses the needs of both the union members and the university.”

The agreement in principle was voted on Wednesday by members, approved at 91 per cent.