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Western University students may have to navigate picket lines when they move into residences at month’s end as contract negotiations between the school and the union representing cleaners, landscaping staff and tradespeople are at a standstill.
The union representing about 330 caretakers, landscape services and trades workers was unable unable to reach an agreement last week with university brass and a conciliator.
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CUPE Local 2361 has filed for a no-board report from Ontario’s Labour Ministry. That’s a formal notice that a board of conciliation need not be appointed. It starts a 17-day countdown, making the start of a potential legal strike or lockout at the beginning of the school year.
Alan Grainger, a union steward and lead caretaker, said the university is “facing an understaffing crisis” at the moment.
“We can’t attract and retain staff and the quality of our services is suffering as a result,” he said. “We’re a fair bit behind our competition for similar work in the area.”
Besides picket lines, a strike could mean dirty washrooms, broken toilets and uncut grass, Grainger said.
“We’re ready to strike and ready to be out there prior to the move-in weekend,” he said.
First-year Western students are scheduled to move into residences from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.
The workers have been without a contract since June 30.
According to an employee survey, almost two-thirds of members in the union have to work a second or third job to make ends meet, and one-third are seeking employment elsewhere, CUPE officials say.
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“Without serious improvements to compensation, benefits and staffing levels, Western will not be able to provide a world-class learning and research environment,” said Gordon Ritchie, a plumber and secretary-treasurer of the local.
Workers at Fanshawe College are paid $5 to $7 an hour more for the same work and the cost of housing has doubled in the last five years, he said.
“We’re . . . parents who have to pay the rent and feed our kids, and that’s getting harder to do each year,” Grainger said. “The university needs to understand the realities we face.”
In an emailed statement, Western officials said they’re aware that CUPE 2361 will be in a legal strike position on Aug. 30.
“We’re hopeful we can reach an agreement before that time,” officials said.
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