Carleton, striking workers contest the truthfulness of each other’s statements

Carleton University and the union representing nearly 850 striking support staff at the school have publicly accused each other of making “untrue” statements, reports the Ottawa Citizen. Last Thursday, Carleton issued a statement regarding CUPE 2424 President Jerrett Clark’s claim that the union wanted to return to negotiations and had asked the school for possible dates. “No further dates have been requested by the union,” said Carleton Assistant Vice-President Rob Thomas, who added that the union told university negotiators it would be prepared to resume talks “only if Carleton changed its position.” The union has also contested Carleton President Alastair Summerlee’s claim that neither the school’s board of governors nor the negotiating team had “ever raised the prospect of converting our plan from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan.” Ottawa Citizen