Support workers at Simon Fraser University will take a strike vote between September 25 and 27 at the university’s three campuses after two years of talks have failed to result in a new collective agreement.
The 1,200 workers make up Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 3338.
The union’s executive and bargaining committee voted unanimously in favour of holding the vote, claiming that the university “has consistently blocked attempts to bargain in good faith ever since the existing contract expired in 2012.”
The union said top issues are wages, inflation protection and job security.
After listing all the things that CUPE 3338 members should be willing to give up, the employer has refused to seriously consider a single one of our proposals,” said Lynne Fowler, president of the local.
“We have been told that there is money in the university budget, but the employer won’t tell us how much. They have also said they fully intend to use any money available to try to fix the ailing SFU Pension Plan.”
Fowler said job action is the union’s only viable option.
“Our goal is not to inconvenience students, but to get the employer to the table with a mandate to bargain a fair and reasonable collective agreement.”
If the union votes to strike, the local can serve 72-hour strike notice and be in a position for legal job action, up to and including a campus-wide strike.
