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<\/a>\u201cAll we\u2019re asking, basically, is to be treated the same as other unions in the province,\u201d explains Louise Oetting, chief steward of CUPE Local 2081, who is looking for a 0\u01100\u01102\u01102 percent raise increase, retroactive to 2010. This would win them a two-percent raise in both 2013 and 2014.<\/p>\n
Jessica Michalofsky, an instructional assistant at Camosun\u2019s School of Access and member of the support staff union, explains that not getting this raise makes everyday life a chore as a result of general inflation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t had a raise in two years, and I think we\u2019re asking for a very small amount,\u201d says Michalofsky. \u201cThe cost of life is going up and our wages aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oetting says that the economic stress put on the members of CUPE Local 2081 doesn\u2019t just affect them, and not getting a settlement also holds negative ramifications for students.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting a settlement of a contract provides us with more stability and a better working environment; people are a lot happier, so we can give the students a better service,\u201d says Oetting.<\/p>\n
While the union claims one of the goals of the strike is to provide better services for students, in the short term it\u2019s having an immediate impact on them.<\/p>\n
To show support for the support staff union many of Camosun\u2019s faculty chose not to cross picket lines, resulting in about 30 percent of classes across both campuses to be cancelled over the course of two days, according to Joan Yates, executive director of communications and advancement at Camosun.<\/p>\n
Yates says that students will receive no reimbursement for cancelled classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably not at this juncture,\u201d she says, \u201cgiven the fact that it was two days, and especially given the fact that most of the material and content will be made up.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked how Camosun will make up the lost time for students, Yates says they will do their best under the circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is somewhat out of the college\u2019s control, and the best the college can do is to do our best to make sure content is not missed,\u201d says Yates.<\/p>\n