NOVEMBER 26, 1999
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THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA NOVEMBER 26, 1999 |
| UVic experienced the first strike in its 36-year history on a cold and wet Nov. 24. It was three hours long.
Picket lines went up on campus at 7 a.m. as the nearly 1,000 members of CUPE locals 917 and 951 hit the bricks to draw attention to their contract negotiations. The two locals represent inside clerical, trades, food service and child care workers. The lines came down at 10 a.m., allowing a Victoria Symphony educational concert for elementary school students to proceed. CUPE spokesperson and local 951 president Doug Sprenger says he was pleased with the turnout. “We made our point directly and boldly that the province and the university need to bring bargaining to a conclusion before Christmas. The members were behind us, and we were pleased to be joined on the picket lines by students, members of the PEA [Professional Employees’ Association], faculty and members of the public.” CUPE had served the university with 72 hours strike notice Nov. 19. UVic spokesperson Bruce Kilpatrick says the university was disappointed that the union decided to strike. “We’d have liked the energy to be directed toward ongoing discussions between the provincial government, CUPE and the University Public Sector Employers Association. We’re hoping that the broad solutions for the university sector that we need in order to reach an agreement at UVic will emerge from these talks. The university has tabled significant proposals on nearly all of the union’s major issues — pensions, job security, and long term disability— and there’s not a lot more we can do locally.” |