Bulletin
CapilanoU – Bargaining 102 & Important Updates
September 23, 2025
To: All MoveUP members at CapilanoU
We’re writing to update you on the status of bargaining preparations at Capilano University.
Your bargaining committee has been hard at work over the past several months, ensuring that we are ready to negotiate a fair contract. We have met on March 10, March 20, March 21, March 25, April 8, and April 29, to develop and finalize a comprehensive package of bargaining proposals seeking improvements to all priorities that you identified in our bargaining survey.
In addition, on August 15 and August 21, we reconvened to conduct a final review of these proposals in response to new information regarding the provincial public-sector bargaining mandate, and to refine our overall bargaining strategy.
The committee will be meeting again in October for final negotiation preparations before we head to the table with the employer.
Public Sector Bargaining Mandate Overview
As a public-sector workplace, our bargaining does not happen in isolation. It’s part of a province-wide process. There are roughly 500,000 public-sector workers in B.C., and about 400,000 of whom are unionized under 186 different collective agreements.
The Public Sector Employers’ Council (PSEC) coordinates all public-sector bargaining in B.C. and sets the overall bargaining mandate (such as wage increases and contract duration) that all public-sector employers, including this University, must follow.
Currently, the provincial government and PSEC have not publicly confirmed a new bargaining mandate for this round. Historically, PSEC keeps the mandate details under wraps until one of the larger public-sector unions (such as BCGEU or CUPE) settles its contract.
For the upcoming round, we are closely watching the major public-sector negotiations and are receiving updates from negotiators at other tables regularly.
Solidarity with BCGEU’s Job Action
You have likely heard that our colleagues and comrades in the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the Professional Employees Association (PEA) are currently engaged in job action in the public service sector.
BCGEU activists organized the union’s largest-ever strike vote and achieved an overwhelming 94.6% strike mandate to press for a fair contract.
The most recent monetary proposal tabled by the employer, and leading to their bargaining impasse, sought a two-year agreement with wage increases equivalent to just 1.5% in year one and 2% in year two. We share BCGEU’s response to this offer: it is unacceptable.
Their fight is our fight. A win for BCGEU will help set the standard for all public-sector workers in BC, including us.
We encourage all of our members to support and show solidarity. If you encounter a BCGEU picket line, do not cross it. Talk with the workers, and ask if you can join their picket line for awhile. By backing each other up, we increase pressure on the Government to deliver the fair wage and working conditions all public-sector workers deserve.
Next Steps and How You Can Support
We are tentatively booking bargaining dates into November to begin negotiations with the University. We will keep you informed once bargaining dates are set or if there are any other significant developments.
In the meantime, your engagement and support are crucial to our success. This is your contract, and you are the Union. Collective bargaining is a team effort.
Here are a few ways you can help strengthen our position and solidarity:
Stay informed and engaged: Continue to read our bulletins and attend union membership meetings to get the latest updates and provide feedback. An informed membership is our greatest strength.
Show solidarity on the lines: Support our BCGEU brothers, sisters, and comrades. Respect picket lines and encourage others to do the same, and talk to your coworkers about why standing together across unions matters. Their struggle sets the pattern for ours, so solidarity benefits everyone.
Update your contact information: Make sure we have your current email and phone number on file so you receive all bargaining news and alerts. You can update your info through the Member Portal here: https://memberportal.moveuptogether.ca/ It is a good idea to include an email address that is an alternate to your CapilanoU address.
In solidarity,
Your bargaining committee :
Darin Feist, Executive Councillor
Suzanne Perreault, Executive Councillor
Niko Williamson, Job Steward
Emily Soloman, Executive Councillor
Chris Shier, Union Representative
Eric Roberts, Job Steward
Nathan Beausoleil, Union Representative
Christy Slusarenko, Vice President of Combined Units