November 16, 2012 - 6:45am
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 16, 2012
NANAIMO, BC – Vancouver Island University (VIU) has received 72-hour notice from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1858 for a potential labour action which could begin as early as Tuesday, November 20.
At this point, the date and timing of a walkout has not been confirmed.
Job action is one step in the collective bargaining process, and VIU respects CUPE’s decision in this regard. However, the bargaining teams for both VIU and CUPE continue to work hard to achieve a renewed collective agreement without the need for labour action.
The priority of both VIU and CUPE remains our students and we are committed to resolving this collective bargaining process with no, or minimal, disruption to students.
CUPE is considering its options one day at a time with the hope that there will be no labour action.
More information will be available in the next update on Monday, November 19, or earlier if events warrant.
Updates will continue to be sent to all students by email through the Registrar’s Office, and posted on the VIU website at www.viu.ca/labourupdate, CUPE’s website at www.cupe1858.org, and on Twitter at @VIUNews.
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ABOUT VIU: Vancouver Island University is Canada’s west coast university. Known as a centre of excellence for teaching, learning and applied research, VIU offers a diverse range of certificate, diploma and undergraduate and master degree programs to more than 18,000 students on campuses in Nanaimo, Powell River and Cowichan, and at the Parksville-Qualicum Centre. For more information visit www.viu.ca
Media ContactS
Dan Hurley, Executive Director, University Relations, Vancouver Island University
P: 250.740.6150 E: Dan.Hurley@viu.ca Twitter: @VIUNews
Deborah Hopper, President, CUPE Local 1858
P: 250.741.7942 E: Pres.cupe1858@live.ca
Tags: In the Community
