UPEI and CUPE 1870 ratify three-year agreement

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Board of Governors and members of Local 1870 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 1870) have approved the three-year tentative agreement that was reached with the assistance of a third-party conciliator on March 14, 2023. CUPE 1870 represents approximately 345 support and administrative employees at UPEI.

“CUPE 1870 members play a vital role at UPEI, providing support to faculty, students, and administration,” said Jackie Podger, UPEI’s vice-president administration and finance. “The priorities of both parties were addressed in this agreement, which is the objective of collective bargaining. On behalf of the University, I thank the bargaining teams for their commitment and for all they do each day to contribute to UPEI’s continued success.”

CUPE 1870 members ratified the agreement in a vote held March 20–21, while the UPEI Board of Governors ratified it at a meeting on March 23. The three-year contract covers the period May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2025. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 2%, effective May 1, 2022 (with retroactive payment for all employees employed from May 1, 2022); $0.50 per hour on all classifications effective November 1, 2022 (retroactive for those employees employed from November 1, 2022); 3% effective May 1, 2023; 1.5% effective May 1, 2024; and 1.5% effective November 1, 2024. 

The University and Local 1928 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW 1928) continue to be in conciliation. Members of the UPEI Faculty Association, Bargaining Unit #1, representing faculty, sessional instructors, librarians, and clinical nursing instructors, remain on strike.

For more information on labour relations at UPEI, visit the website, upei.ca/labour.