Article content
London’s mayor is speaking out after receiving criticism from Western University pickets that he should get involved to help end their labour impasse with the school, now into its sixth week.
CUPE Local 2361 represents 330 striking blue-collar workers at Western, including landscapers and caretakers. Several of them have taken their picket line far from campus to London city hall – an effort to pressure Josh Morgan, who as mayor sits on Western’s board of governors, to intervene.
Article content
Morgan sought to correct the public record on Wednesday, after a union official told The Free Press the mayor had never spoken with them. Morgan said a couple of union members went inside city hall earlier this week and he spoke to them for roughly 20 minutes.
“I was happy to meet with them as the mayor of the city, and we had a good conversation,” Morgan said. “I’m unclear on why there’s a perception out there that I wouldn’t meet with them, when, in fact, I already have earlier this week.”
Morgan notes that he doesn’t have the power to influence labour talks – either as a board of governors member, or the city’s top politician.
“I am not authorized by the board in any sort of way to be a representative of the university on this, nor am I on the negotiating committee,” Morgan said. “As mayor, I don’t have any special privileges or authority over the university.”
Union members have been marching at the entrance to city hall’s parking garage for about two weeks. One city hall official said there have been no issues.
Workers walked off the job on Aug. 30 with demands including higher pay. School officials previously said their four-year deal proposal offered workers an average annual wage increase of 5.3 per cent, noting union members would earn between $52,000 and $99,000 in the first year.
School officials said Wednesday was the second straight day of resumed talks between the two sides with the help of a conciliator.
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada
Recommended from Editorial
Share this article in your social network
