The University of Western Ontario Staff Association (UWOSA) has voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action.
Of the nearly 1,000 staff working in faculties and administrative units across campus represented by UWOSA, 720 members cast their ballot during the Oct. 5-6 vote. UWOSA has been without a contract since June 30.
“We will continue to bargain in good faith to achieve a fair and equitable collective agreement for our members,” says Deb Novakowski, UWOSA president. “We will continue to resist attempts to erode the benefits we’ve worked so hard to achieve for our members since we certified over a decade ago.”
UWOSA has been involved in four months of contract negotiations with the university. UWOSA filed for conciliation to help advance negotiations. The first meeting with the conciliator is Friday, Oct. 8.
“Holding a strike vote is a normal part of the negotiations process. Both sides are back at the negotiations table Oct 8 and 14 and a conciliator has been appointed by the province to assist the two sides to reach an agreement,” says Helen Connell, associate vice-president of communications and chief marketing officer at Western.
“UWOSA members play a valuable role towards Western achieving our academic and research mission and Western’s administration remains committed to working with UWOSA to reach a negotiated settlement.”
UWOSA will not be in a legal strike position until a no-board report has been requested and 17 days have passed after the authorization by the Ontario Minister of Labour.
Last week, The University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) also voted in support of a strike mandate.
A total of 87 per cent of UWOFA’s full and part-time members voted in favour of authorizing their union to call a strike. Voter turnout was 57 per cent of eligible faculty. UWOFA has been without a contract since June 30.
Check the Contract Negotiations @ Western website for updates.