The McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA) is a labour union at McGill University representing roughly 1700 non-academic support staff.
History
Formation
MUNACA was formed in 1992 and certified as a union by the Quebec Labour Relations Commission in 1993. Its first president, Allan Youster, was a former president of the non-unionized McGill University Non-academic Staff Association (MUNASA) for ten years.
First collective agreement
MUNACA tabled its proposal for a first collective agreement in August 1995. In late summer 1996, MUNACA requested the appointment of a conciliator due to stalled negotiations and a multi-year salary freeze. Conciliation began on September 17, 1996, but the conciliator stated that an impasse had been reached on April 9, 1997 over issues of salary and job security, leading McGill to call in an arbitrator with the authority to set the terms of an agreement. In 1998, MUNACA members voted to engage in pressure campaign, including sizeable protests supported by fellow unions SEIU Local 800 (property services) and AGSEM (teaching assistants). Meanwhile, attrition reduced the size of the union by 500. In February 1999, MUNACA members voted overwhelmingly in favor of a contract which included a retroactive 3.5% salary increase with 1% progression followed by a 1.5% increase with 1.5% progression. The contract eliminated discretionary merit increases, placed greater (but not exclusive) weight on seniority in job selection, and included a compromise on employment security. Non-unionized staff also received largely the same salary increase.
Second collective agreement
Negotiations began for a second collective agreement in November 2002. In September 2003, the university added a new demand to the table: increasing work hours for MUNACA members without additional compensation. In response, MUNACA members authorized pressure tactics, including a protest, and suspended talks until the demand was rescinded. Concern about overwork of MUNACA members was raised by faculty and MUNASA members at the McGill Senate. McGill later withdrew the demand for increased working hours and the parties entered conciliation at McGill's request. In December 2003, MUNACA members overwhelmingly rejected McGill's offer and authorized a strike. They also participated in a voluntary half-day walkout and demonstration. Partly at issue were floating holidays and summer Fridays. Later in December, MUNACA members voted to accept a contract offering 2% scale increases and 2.2-2.5% progressions, along with compensation for the loss of summer Fridays and an increase in salary minima.
Interim
As MUNACA was not affiliated with any larger union, several attempts were made by both members and external unions to affiliate, sometimes leading to strife. Additionally, MUNACA was forced to deal with representatives sending messages judged prejudicial to the good name of the union. In March 2005, MUNACA raised dues by 10% to implement a strike fund in preparation for the next round of negotiations.