Striking workers from CUPE 926 at Wilfrid Laurier University are back at work following the ratification of a new collective agreement. CUPE 926, which represents regular employees within Laurier’s Department of Physical Resources, went on strike to prevent the employer from unilaterally imposing terms and conditions of work, a heavy-handed and unacceptable bargaining tactic.
In a statement, President of CUPE 926 Allan Savard said:
“This has been a very difficult experience for our members who stood on the picket line, and I’m so proud of them for standing up for principles that don’t just affect them – they affect each and every member of this campus and this community.
They fought hard to protect job security language that maintains stable, secure, good jobs that support communities, and we will continue to stand against precarious work that harms communities.
We expect (WLU President) Max Blouw, and this university, to be more than just a leading employer in this community. This university needs to be a responsible employer and it ought to be a model employer.”
OCUFA President Judy Bates sent a letter of support for CUPE 926 to President Blouw, urging the employer to abandon bullying tactics and to negotiate a fair settlement.