Prince George, B.C.- The picket lines are expected to be up at UNBC at 1:00 this afternoon as CUPE local 3799 members walk off the job.

 

The picket line is expected to be set up at the entrance to the University and   will be in place until 4:30 in the afternoon.

 

CUPE local 3799 President Caroline Sewell says negotiators are hopeful of an early return to the bargaining table “We gave them a proposal last Friday, and are waiting for their response.” She says she is hopeful contract talks could resume as early as Friday.

 

The union represents 370 support staff at UNBC, but since faculty members and teaching staff are not members of CUPE, the University expects classes and labs to continue as scheduled. Students and visitors are being advised to expect reduced levels of service in numerous administrative departments.

 

According to UNBC, the   Northern Sport Centre, Cafeteria and Child Care Centre are expected to remain open during the strike. It is likely city buses will not cross the picket line, so riders will be dropped off at the UNBC sign near the main entrance to the campus.

 

CUPE local 3799 is not the only group of University support staff to take action today, their counterparts at

Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University , University of B.C.  and University of Victoria are also poised to walk off the job today. 

 

The support staff and teaching assistants have been without a   new contract since 2010. The union says the main issues are job security, inflation protection and wages.