Tutors, support staff at B.C. post-secondary institutions take job action

VANCOUVER – Teaching assistants at the University of B.C. and support staff at other post-secondary schools around the province are stepping up job action while employees at two institutions have yet to ratify agreements.

The 2,300 UBC teaching assistants, tutors, markers and English language instructors of CUPE Local 2278 plan to picket a single building at the Vancouver campus on Monday afternoon to push for contract demands that haven’t been met for two years.

CUPE support workers at Vancouver Community College are also expected to refuse overtime Monday and walk out Tuesday at two campuses.

The union says it’s planning rotating, escalating job action to push for productive negotiations after that.

The members of Local 4627 represent library technicians, clerical and cafeteria workers, along with administrative and technical staff.

Meanwhile, CUPE support staff at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops and the University of Northern B.C. in Prince George have settled contracts that haven’t been ratified yet.