Job action has halted all classes at Capilano University in North Vancouver.
A statement on the university’s website says classes are suspended at its main campus and its Sechelt campus on the Sunshine Coast.
MoveUP, which represents the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, Local 378, says on its website that talks between the university and union collapsed over continued demands for concessions.
On May 10 and 12, 2023, the parties met with the Labour Relations Board mediator and presented a revised settlement offer that included wage increases of 12–13 per cent over a three-year term ending June 30, 2025, and a new wellness spending account of $300 per year for regular employees,” the university said in a statement.
“MoveUP rejected the offer over the single issue of remote work and served the University 72-hour strike notice on Friday, May 12. The union advised it would introduce an overtime ban as of Monday, May 15. Subsequently, groups of employees started picketing on Wednesday, May 17. As of June 6, the Capilano University Faculty Association (CFA) has joined the strike in solidarity. As a result, student classes, activities and events on campus are unable to run as scheduled until further notice.”
The university said convocation events are going ahead as planned.
The job action comes as the Ministry of Finance announces agreements affecting about 2,100 public sector CUPE support staff at five post-secondary institutions in B.C.
The three-year mandates cover Canadian Union of Public Employees support staff at Vancouver Island University, Camosun and North Island colleges, as well as the College of the Rockies and College of New Caledonia.
Workers will receive total wage increases of just under 11 per cent over the life of the deal, which is retroactive to April 2022, and contains cost-of-living adjustments and benefits such as Indigenous cultural leave and improved mental health supports.