WINDSOR, ON – Frustrated by the slow pace of contract negotiations, and demands for concessions by the University of Windsor administration, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1393 held a strike vote yesterday.
CUPE Local 1393 is comprised of over 230 technical and trade professionals. The meeting was well attended and resulted in a vote with 83 per cent in support of a strike mandate for the bargaining committee.
“The University administration is spending two to three times more money per hour, by using outside contractors, instead of creating more critical full time jobs, needed to serve an increasing student population on a growing campus,” said Aldo DiCarlo, president of Local 1393. “We have all the professionals and willing experience on campus, yet management continues to waste the students’ and taxpayers’ money by going outside instead of using their own staff”.
“Because of the University administration’s failure to understand its obligations arising out of the terms of the last collective agreement, it is costing the university millions of dollars to fight over 200 outstanding grievances, instead of sitting down with us to find solutions. At the same time, they continue to increase student tuitions and reduce services to students and staff,” added DiCarlo.
“We urge students, parents, faculty and area residents to contact university administrators to demand they stop their attacks on staff, and make every effort to return to the bargaining table with a fair settlement to avoid a disruption that will hurt the university’s reputation.” DiCarlo concluded.
For more information, please contact:
Aldo DiCarlo
CUPE 1393 president
Cell: 519-981-2605
Joel Bentley
CUPE National representative
Tel: 519-966-9595
Christian Martel
CUPE Communications
Cell: 647-270-6775