Thursday, June 3, 1993

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT:  Negotiators for the Ontario Confederation of
University Faculty Associations -- the umbrella group which includes
UW's faculty association -- pulled out of the "sectoral table" talks
yesterday.  Still at that table, at last report, were the government,
the leaders of universities and colleges, and representatives of six
other employee organizations, including two that represent UW staff.

Also at the sectoral table yesterday, the Council of Ontario Universities,
representing the management of universities, presented a counter-proposal
to the document tabled by the government on Monday.  It includes much
of the same language, and many of the same suggestions on technical
and financial matters, including a plan for each university to trim its
payroll through discussions inside the university on pay freezes, days
off and other measures.  It differs from the government proposal chiefly
by putting more stress on university autonomy and on protection of pension
funds.

Negotiators have been given until 6 p.m. tomorrow to arrive at a "social
contract", with the implied threat that there will be legislation if 
they fail.  The government has been threatening layoffs in the civil
service if negotiators don't find a way to trim payroll costs without
layoffs.  In the universities and similar agencies, the more likely
outcome is that each university will be told how much it has to save,
and left to find its own way.

According to a chart presented to UW's board of governors on Tuesday, the
"social contract" is likely to mean cuts of about $9 million for this
university, on top of $3 million already lost to government expenditure
cuts in 1993-94.

THAT'S ALL the news, but at least the sun is shining.

Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs
credmond@watserv1    ext. 3004