Striking CUPE workers have minimal impact on Western move-in day

Thousands of first-year Western University students moved into residence Saturday.

Thousands of first-year Western University students moved into residence Saturday.

“It's an exciting day, as we're welcoming 6,000 new students to our first year residences,” said Chris Alleyne, associate vice-president of housing at Western.

However, as their parents arrived on campus to drop them off, they were greeted by striking members of CUPE local 2361.

“We're trying to make an impact, not in a way of holding students up from coming in and experiencing their Western life,” said Chris Yates, vice-president of CUPE Local 2361. “We're trying to make an impact, getting our message across, giving them leaflets, letting them know we want to be here, supporting them, and how at the moment we're not.”

Yates said they only had one instance Saturday morning where a car nearly ran over one of his members. He said London police were called, however, police could not confirm that happened.

At noon Saturday, members, alongside community allies, gathered at the Richmond Street entrance for a solidarity rally.

“We have a rich university that benefits from your labour, and yet they are penny pinching when it comes to paying you what you are worth,” said MPP Terence Kernaghan during the rally. “That is a shame.”