My Side of Strike

On the subject of the OUC strike

I currently attend OUC north Kelowna campus and am also a member of the support staff working on campus. I don't want to say where I work, but that I work there.

I have been working for OUC for 2 years and in that time, have reached the cap of my salary increase. You start at 8.01/hour a raise at 250 hours to 8.30/hour to an eventual 8.60/hour at 500 hours. That doesn't seem a lot for a student to make when UBC student workers start at 15.00/hour. Five years ago when minimum wage was significantly lower, what I make now was a lot of money. With inflation and increased minimum wage, it almost looks silly how little I make in comparison.

I'm not sure exactly how the wages go for non-student employees, but because I'm a member of the union I suspect that their wages are probably pretty low as well. Don't get me wrong, I love working for OUC, and interacting with other students, but I fully support their reasons for wanting to strike. I would hope the government opens their eyes to the rising severity of the situation. If a full out strike were to occur, how would that affect the quality of education we are receiving at OUC?

L.H.