UPDATED: Targeted VIU job action tomorrow not expected to affect students

VIU Cowichan’s continuing-education staffer Kim Lesiuk (left) and welcome-centre worker Trudy Bagnall were among some 20 Local 1858 support employees on strike Tuesday.

Peter W. Rusland

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Job action returns to Vancouver Island University tomorrow.

But if all goes as planned, students will not notice.

The university announced late Tuesday afternoon that the Canadian Union of Public Employees' Local 1858 has job action planned for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. But the university expects that action will not impact classes.

"This job action will not disrupt classes and will impact the facilities department only.  This means that internal services such as mail delivery, regular maintenance and repair, and facility job requests, will not be available during this period," VIU spokesperson Dan Hurley said in a media release. "However, all classes will proceed as scheduled."

Hurley had first issued notice Friday that such action may be possible as both sides continued efforts to reach a renewed collective agreement.

His note followed last week's two-day walk-out by VIU's inside support staff on Cowichan's campus, and at other college grounds.

Deborah Hopper of Local 1858 was unavailable for comment by press time yesterday.

CUPE's college locals has been without a contract since 2010.

The union has handed a wage proposal, with 0-0-2-2-% wage hikes, to the province's Post-Secondary Employers' Association that holds contract-signing power.