CUPE college workers strike again

B.C. college workers launched three days of job action last week, beginning on November 29.

B.C. college workers launched three days of job action last week, beginning on November 29, aimed at getting the government of B.C. to sign a collective agreement, but College of the Rockies community relations manager Donna Kraus-Hagerman said  students at the Invermere campus felt no effects.

This latest strike took place just one week after Invermere’s classes were cancelled on November 19 and 20 in a similar move by CUPE workers.

“Membership has been extremely frustrated that the BC Liberals appear unwilling to recognize that college support staff provide the same valuable services that university support staff provide,” said CUPE Local 2773 Pam Catsirelis at the College of the Rockies in a media release.

Actions by CUPE’s more than 3,000 college workers ranged from shutting down specific departments to demonstrating outside local MLAs offices.

“Our two-day strike action last week got the government to come back to the table [this Friday] and while we still don’t have an agreement, we believe that these actions are necessary until we have a deal,” said CUPE Local 1858 President Deborah Hopper in the release.