Support from LAMPS

M. Giroux and members of the Board of Governors

At the meeting of the Laurentian Association of Mature & Part-times Students
council August 5th 2009, the council unanimously approved a resolution of
support for the members of LUSU in their struggle with the University.  We
are disappointed that negotiations have stalled between the Laurentian
University Staff Union and the Laurentian administration.  

The members of the Laurentian University Staff Union are vital to Laurentian
University operations, without those workers this university would be in
shambles. LUSU has been negotiating in good faith, even taking into
consideration the precarious financial situation of the university because
they're committed to the success of the university. However the same cannot
be said for the Laurentian University bargaining team which is simply trying
to remove basic workers rights such as seniority & a comprehensive
harassment policy, to merely have increased flexibility when it comes to
labour at Laurentian.

Students will not tolerate a labour dispute especially one that is imposed
by an administration that is unwilling to respect basic labour rights. We
will push that any class time that is missed due to a strike be reimbursed
to every student.  We will encourage our members not to cross any picket
lines and discourage them from paying any tuition installments until the
dispute is resolved.  

We realize that we are living in difficult times but using the universities
financial situation to remove basic union rights is shameful.  LUSU is only
asking to maintain their current rights and a cost of living increase.  It
was my impression that this was already budgeted for.  The University's
enrollment targets will be negatively impacted by a strike, so we urge the
administration to stop playing games and start negotiating a fair contract.

Sincerely,

Richard L. Paquette
President; LAMPS, local 104, Canadian Federation of Students