VANCOUVER—Members of CUPE 3338 were out in force this morning at Simon Fraser University’s downtown Vancouver campus. Pickets were up for three hours outside the bookstore, main Harbour Centre building and SFU Woodward’s.
CUPE 3338 support workers have been without a contract since 2010. The main issues are inflation protection, job security and a fair and reasonable wage increase. While the rest of the universities in BC have been ramping up negotiations, SFU has arbitrarily refused to negotiate monetary items with CUPE 3338.
Support was on hand at this morning’s job action from international students, teaching assistants, COPE members and a number of faculty members who choose not to cross the picket lines for classes. At the SFU Woodward’s campus, one group of fine and performing arts students (pictured above) decided to hold their class in the courtyard rather than cross a legal picket line.
Photos of the CUPE 3338 job action.
Meanwhile CUPE 116 has reported continuing job action at the University of British Columbia this week. The local reported to CUPE today that picket lines were up on Wednesday at South Campus. “Campus mail was struck, preventing the distribution of mail services on Campus. Gardeners from the Landscape Crew walked off the job in support and joined the pickets.” The local says job action continued yesterday with a work stoppage at the Department of Building Operations and pickets at the University Services Building. Affected members included trades people, clerical workers, trouble calls staff and Custodians. CUPE 116 is back at the bargaining table today and tomorrow (Saturday) with mediator Vince Ready.
