November 20, 2012 - 3:04am
*1858 participating in two-day job action today and Wednesday with other locals at BC post-secondary institutions*
VIU RELEASE: 2012/139
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 20, 2012
NANAIMO, BC – Job action by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1858 is underway at all Vancouver Island University (VIU) campuses today. This job action is expected to continue **tomorrow, Wednesday, November 21, 2012**. In support of CUPE’s action, the Vancouver Island University Faculty Association (VIUFA) and the British Columbia Government and Services Employees’ Union (BCGEU) have advised their members to respect the picket lines.
This means that **all classes are cancelled today, Tuesday, November 20, and tomorrow, Wednesday, November 21, unless otherwise notified**. Limited services are available to students at all campuses. This includes:
**Nanaimo:** Limited work/study space is available in the Computer Commons in the Library from 7:00 am to midnight, in the International Students Centre from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and in the Upper Cafeteria from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. Counselling for emergency situations will also be provided at Student Services from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and for International Students on an on-call basis.
**Cowichan:** Limited work/study space is available in the Students’ Commons area from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm both days. Counselling for emergency situations is also being provided.
**Powell River:** Limited work/study space is available in the computer lab. Counselling will also be provided today until 2:30 pm and tomorrow, Wednesday, November 21, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
**Parksville/Qualicum:** The student study centre will be open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Updates on picket activity can be found at [www.viu.ca/labourupdate](http://www.viu.ca/labourupdate). Students are encouraged to keep monitoring their emails for update messages. If there are any further questions that have not been addressed here, please email labourinfo@viu.ca or call (250)753-3245 or 1-888-920-2221.
At this time, CUPE 1858 has indicated that this will be a two-day labour action. If the parties are able to reach a settlement in the meantime, the labour action may conclude before that time.
VIU and CUPE have worked hard to settle this bargaining process, and are committed to completing a negotiated settlement without further disruption to students. We regret the inconvenience this labour action will cause, especially for our students, and are hopeful that it will conclude quickly and positively.
The next update will be made available **tomorrow, Wednesday, November 21**, or earlier if events warrant. Updates will continue to be sent to all students by email through the Registrar’s Office, and posted on the VIU website at [www.viu.ca/labourupdate](http://www.viu.ca/labourupdate), and on Twitter at @VIUNews.
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*ABOUT VIU: Vancouver Island University is Canada’s west coast university. Known as a centre of excellence for teaching, learning and applied research, VIU offers a diverse range of certificate, diploma and undergraduate and master degree programs to more than 18,000 students on campuses in Nanaimo, Powell River and Cowichan, and at the Parksville-Qualicum Centre. For more information visit [www.viu.ca](http://www.viu.ca/)*
**MEDIA CONTACTS**
Dan Hurley, Executive Director, University Relations, Vancouver Island University P: 250.740.6150 E: Dan.Hurley@viu.ca Twitter: @VIUNews
Tags: In the Community
