Strike: Facilities employees at Western University begin pickets as students return to school
After two months of bargaining, wages and hiring remain as sticking points
Several hundred Western University employees responsible for everything from electrical issues to cutting the grass walked off the job the same day many students began moving into residence.
Members of CUPE local 2361 set up pickets at 7 a.m. Friday at the university gates on Richmond Street after talks broke down Wednesday.
The two sides had been bargaining since June 30, with the university saying it's offered the 330 employees a competitive compensation package that would see a 22 per cent wage increase over four years.
The union said 90 per cent of members voted 99 per cent in favour of a strike. They say as enrolment continues to increase at Western, so has their workload which should be mitigated with new hires.
"We know that there's a skilled trades shortage across Canada. It's here and now," said Chris Yates, an electrician and the vice-president of CUPE 2361.
"With the wages that the university pays, we're just not able to attract and retain people. Meanwhile, the university's enrolment numbers have gone up since the pandemic, by roughly 5000 students. More people means more mess, more things get broken, and they need more of us to actually fix them," Yates said.
The union said a caretaker currently earns $23.32 per hour at Western, while other institutions of similar size pay upward of $29.
It's not clear how the strike will impact move-in weekend, when thousands of students arrive on campus and frosh week activities get underway. The striking workers say they're responsible for keeping the lights on and the grounds clean, and they say they are especially needed at this time of year.
"Western has detailed plans in place, and we are committed to ensuring the fall term runs as smoothly as possible," said Western spokesperson Stephen Ledgley in an email.
"The university is open, and all activities will continue."
Students returning to campus were surprised to see pickets on Friday morning with some saying they hope for a quick resolution to the labour dispute.
"When I was in first year, I was at Med-Syd [Medway-Sydenham Hall] in a traditional style dorm room. The bathrooms definitely need a lot of cleaning because everyone comes in and out, especially the showers and stuff," third-year student Michael Zhao said.
"I just hope that the university and the workers can come to a peaceful solution and the workers can continue to clean and provide for the students," Zhao said.