Brock employees set to strike as of Monday

About 200 employees of Brock University could be on strike Monday if contract mediation this weekend fails to produce a deal.

Negotiations between the university and District 35 of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation that represents the institution’s support workers have so far failed to produce an agreement.

The two sides met with a provincially appointed conciliation officer on July 14, according to a Brock University posting on the school’s website, but that meeting did not result in a deal.

OSSTF District 35 president Norm Westbury said the union is in position to begin a strike on Monday if Sunday talks with a mediator fail.

“Our commitment to negotiating a fair deal for our members remains intact,” Westbury said.

He said the main issue left on the table is job security provisions, one he says the university has all but declined to talk to about.

A request to interview an official from Brock was declined, with a spokesman pointing to the university’s web posting as the university’s only comment while negotiations are ongoing.

The posting said the university is committed to reaching a “fair and reasonable agreement.”

It also said if a strike occurs, Brock employees should anticipate delays and allow extra time to get onto campus. The univer- sity is also advising employees to use public transit to avoid taking their personal vehicles across picket lines.

An OSSFT bulletin said picket lines will be set up at the St. David’s Rd. and Norman Rd. entrances to Brock from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. if a strike is launched.