Last week well over a hundred members of Assiniboine Community College (ACC) Local 71 took part in an information picket in Brandon to protest their employer’s negotiating tactic of bargaining backwards.

The next day, the committee and the employers' representatives returned for a fourth day of conciliation, but not much has changed. They continue to refuse to bargain any improvements to employee health benefits and they have not wavered in their demand for a general wage freeze in 2010 and 2011. The sum total of the employers' salary offer over a four year period amounts to 3% (1% increase retroactive to June 2009, 0% June 2010, 0% June 2011, and a 2% increase in June 2012).

Earlier last week the bargaining committee also held information meetings for Red River College and ACC members, who unanimously passed motions directing the bargaining committee to conduct a strike vote, which is exactly what the committee is doing.

Here are the voting dates and locations.

Red River College Strike Votes:

Monday, June 7 - Winkler
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Days Inn, Meeting Room 2 (3rd Floor) 395 Boundary Trail

Monday, June 7 - Winnipeg
Registration 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Information Session 5:00 - 5:30 PM
Balloting 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Victoria Inn, Centennial Ballroom
1808 Wellington Ave

Tuesday, June 8 - Steinbach
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Steinbach Legion
294 Lumber Street

Tuesday, June 8 - Winnipeg
Registration 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Information Session 5:00 – 5:30 PM
Balloting 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Victoria Inn, Centennial Ballroom
1808 Wellington Ave

Wednesday, June 9 - Portage
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
MGEU Office, 214 Saskatchewan Ave

Assiniboine Community College Strike Votes:

Wednesday, June 9 - Dauphin
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
MGEU Office, 322 Main St. South

Thursday, June 10 - Brandon
Registration 4:30 – 5:00 PM
Information Session 5:00 – 5:30 PM
Balloting 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Victoria Inn, Grand Salon B
3550 Victoria Ave

All current dues-paying ACC and RRC members are encouraged to attend the meeting in their area and cast their ballot. More details on the vote are available in the latest bargaining bulletin, which is currently being mailed to members.

The committee is also staging another information picket – this time in Winnipeg on Thursday, June 3 at the RRC Princess Street campus (11:00am - 1:30pm). All members are encouraged to join the picket and show their support.