General Strike 72 hour support staff of the University of Sherbrooke

SCFP

Sherbrooke, Friday 26 August 2011 - Exasperated a negotiation which advances at a glacial pace, support staff of the University of Sherbrooke to trigger 17 h Friday a general strike 72 hours. The return to work is scheduled for 17 h Monday. On the other hand, union representatives warn that the leverage will continue whether the negotiating session scheduled for Monday does not allow significant advances.

About 1300 Support employees have been without a contract for almost 32 month, and 120 other, allocated to research, are from 62 month. They held three short strikes, two of 24 hours and a 60 hours, since 5 July. Despite this rise in leverage and multiple warnings about the return, their employer maintained wage rates well below inflation.

"We hammered in recent weeks that the management could not procrastinate beyond the back and we refuse to become the lowest paid of Quebec universities support staff. The management of the university refused to hear us. We are continuing our action to resolve the case as soon as possible ",said Stephane Caron, Union President employees and support staff of the University of Sherbrooke (SEESUS-SCFP 7498).

"Our employer showed up at the trading session of 22 August almost empty hands. Ensuite, we announced that the meeting scheduled 29 August would serve him to explain an old offer already rejected. It's fine to want to pass the time, but the, the time has come. AT 17 h Monday, there will be conspiracy, either new strike in sight ",said Stephane Caron.

By Friday late afternoon, picketers will settle in the southwest corner of the intersection of University Boulevard and Chemin Sainte Catherine. Other strikers manifest at the Longueuil campus.

In October 2010, the approximately 1400 members voted to SEESUS 88 per cent in favor of pressure tactics up to the strike. They have been without a contract since 31 December 2008, apart from those allocated to research, for which it is the 26 June 2006.