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THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, members of CUPE 3905, have voted overwhelmingly to strike. Mediation is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, March 21st.

Issues include wages and workload, job security and health benefits. Students across the province have seen a jump in tuition fees, and at Lakehead, the assistants are facing an increase in workload. As a result, they are asking for appropriate compensation from the university.

At this point, the university has the lowest wage increase in the province on the table,” said Mike Walters, CUPE spokesperson. “That’s just not good enough; the low wage offer, coupled with the lack of job security and no improvement in health benefits for our members and their families, add up to a really poor offer that the members have rejected. Over two-thirds of our members were present for the strike vote.”

The strike date is Friday, March 23rd.

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For further information, contact: Mike Walters, CUPE National Representative - 905-973-1663; Wendy Forbes, CUPE Communications - 416-892-8716