Classes at Vancouver Island University were cancelled today (Nov. 20) and are expected to be cancelled tomorrow due to job action by the institution's support workers.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents nearly 300 support workers at VIU, including clerical, food and maintenance workers, indicated this will be a two-day strike with campuses returning to normal on Thursday (Nov. 22), at which time support workers will discuss the next steps.
During the strike, limited work/study space is available in the computer commons in the library from 7 a.m. to midnight, in the International Students Centre from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and in the upper cafeteria from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Counselling for emergency situations will also be provided at Student Services from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and for international students on an on-call basis.
The university's sports teams are also trying to find ways to work within the strike action. Please see this related story.
Updates on picket activity can be found at www.viu.ca/labourupdate and students are encouraged to keep monitoring their e-mails for update messages.