Labour Relations

Cape Breton University values our relationship with our faculty and staff and recognizes that they are a key part of providing an outstanding student and learning experience for our students. We are committed to working closely with our unionized and non-unionized team members to ensure that the University is a leading employer both in the province and the country.

There are four bargaining units at the University:

• Cape Breton University Faculty Association (CBUFA) representing our faculty, librarians, lab instructors, writing centre advisors, archivists, research chairs, and nursing practice educators.
• Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU Local 18B – MOS/CSO) representing our maintenance and campus security.
• Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU Local 18 – Teachers) representing our teachers.
• Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Local 3131) representing our support staff.

CBU and CUPE Local 3131 Reach Tentative Agreement

Cape Breton University and CUPE Local 3131 have reached a tentative agreement. This tentative agreement comes after one day of discussions led by the Provincial Conciliation Services Division.

A tentative agreement means that negotiators for both parties have agreed to the terms of a collective agreement. The next step is for this to be agreed upon and ratified by CUPE Local 3131 members and the Cape Breton University Board of Governors.

Details of the agreement will be announced once ratified.

Quick Links

• Employee Relations
• Collective Bargaining FAQs
• FAQ Strike Information for Students
• FAQ Strike Information for Employees

General Labour Relations Updates

Cape Breton University and CUPE Local 3131 have reached a tentative agreement. This tentative agreement comes after one day of discussions led by the Provincial Conciliation Services Division.

A tentative agreement means that negotiators for both parties have agreed to the terms of a collective agreement. The next step is for this to be agreed upon and ratified by CUPE Local 3131 members and the Cape Breton University Board of Governors.

Details of the agreement will be announced once ratified.

To the Cape Breton University Community,

We are writing today to let you know that Cape Breton University values our colleagues in CUPE Local 3131. We respect their rights during the collective bargaining process, including the right to vote for labour action. Voting on labour action is a normal step in the collective bargaining process.

Conciliation is taking place on September 7, 2023, and we continue to remain optimistic that we can reach an agreement with the assistance of Provincial Conciliator Peter Lloyd.

To learn more about the collective bargaining process, visit our FAQ page. We will continue to keep the University community informed as the process evolves.

The Collective Bargaining Team

Elana Whalen, Director of Human Resources (Chief Negotiator)

Jeremy Oliver, Human Resources Manager

Stephanie Myles, Legal Counsel

Becky Chisholm, Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Management and Student Experience

To the CBU Community,

The University is pleased to announce that CBU and CUPE have ratified a one-year roll-over extension agreement, with union members voting in favour of the agreement.

This rollover agreement includes:

• A 2% annual increase for the one-year extension
• A one-time $1,500 lump sum payment

This agreement reflects the important role that our CUPE employees play at CBU while balancing the needs of the University. The University would like to thank both bargaining teams for their hard work in achieving this ratified extension agreement.

Cape Breton University

On June 24 th , the University and the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU Local 18B – MOS/CSO) representing our maintenance and campus security staff ratified a three-year renewal collective agreement with 67% voting in favour.

This agreement includes:

• 2% wage increase a year for each of the three years of the agreement,
• A one-time lump-sum payment of $1,500.00,
• A new step 4 classification,
• Process improvements such as standardized hours of work, new labour management committee and pension language for new employees to the bargaining unit, and
• New entitlements for CSO’s under NSGEU representation.

The University would like to thank the members of both bargaining teams for their hard work in getting this renewal collective agreement negotiated and ratified.

The University is pleased to announce that the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU Local 18 – Teachers) ratified a two-year roll-over extension agreement, with union members voting 100% in favour of the agreement.

This rollover agreement includes:

• Parity with CBUFA Department Chair salaries, and compensation for Overloads and Distance Courses, and
• A 2% annual increase for each of the two years of the contract.

This agreement reflects the important role that our NSGEU Teachers play at CBU while balancing the needs of the University. The University would like to thank both bargaining teams for their hard work in achieving this ratified agreement.

Unama’ki espi-kina’matno’kuom etek Mi’kma’ki, wla na no’kamanaq aq maqamikewminu mena’qiknmuetuk.

Cape Breton University is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw People.