CUPE locals 917 and 951 at the University of Victoria are set to take strike action on September 5. Members were busy on Labour Day getting 1,000 picket signs ready.
Legal job action can start at 8 a.m. on September 5 for the 1,500 university support workers, who have been in bargaining since their contract expired in 2010. The locals have met more than 20 times with the employer and have made little progress. The main issues are job security, inflation protection and a fair and reasonable wage increase.
Job actions could include a ban on paid overtime and pickets at specific university buildings. The locals say their focus is on the minimum disruption to students and the maximum push for the university to return to the bargaining table.