Classes at Vancouver Island University will not be disrupted by any job action by support workers this week.
University officials cancelled all classes on Tuesday and Wednesday last week due to strike action by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, but this week, the union will not take any action that would disrupt classes for students.
Deborah Hopper, president of CUPE Local 1858, which represents the university’s nearly 300 support workers, said other forms of job action that do not disrupt classes are a possibility this week, such as a ban on overtime or rotating pickets that don’t impact classroom areas, and more information will be available today (Nov. 27).
“We know that students have been through a lot in the past couple years,” she said. “If we can maintain pressure on the government without disrupting classes any further, then we will try to do that.”
Talks between the union and the provincial government are scheduled to take place this weekend, Hopper added.
Job action updates will be sent directly to all students via e-mail and will also be posted on the university’s website at www.viu.ca/labour update and on Twitter at @VIUNews.
