LUSU Supports Local 6500!

LUSU Makes Donation to USW Local 6500

The Laurentian University Staff Union (LUSU) will be on site at the main picket
line in Copper Cliff on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 3:00 pm to present a cheque
to striking United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6500 members.

LUSU has just ratified a tentative agreement with Laurentian University, reached
after a weekend of round the clock mediation.  Just like Local 6500, LUSU was 
facing major concessions to the collective agreement, at the hands of a new 
management team.

LUSU President, Tracy Oost, stated, "When lay off language was still on the 
table late Saturday night, the University dropped a final bombshell on us.  The
real motive behind their lay off language was to reintroduce a new version of 
"Rae Days", which we quickly dubbed "Dominic Days" after LU's new President.

The university wanted LUSU to agree to these unpaid days off, at any time that 
they felt there was a financial problem.  LUSU was successful in having the 
university drop their proposal on the matter.

Now that LUSU will not be going on strike, we are in a position to assist our 
Brothers and Sisters with Local 6500, and we will be making a donation of $2500 
to their strike fund.

"We feel for them," said Oost.  "There are too many companies and institutions 
that are using the state of the economy to try to gain concessions from their 
workers, when those companies are still making billion-dollar profits.  It's 
pure greed."

For more information contact,
Tracy Oost
President, LUSU