[LabComm] PRESS RELEASE: September 30 re: UBC layoff plan puts campus at risk

[Harprit Khaira]

CUPE Communique
September 30, 2003


UBC layoff plan puts campus at risk

VANCOUVER – UBC’s plan to cut up to 26 security staff and replace them with
untrained students will put the university community at risk, says CUPE, the
union representing security workers.

“The university is demanding that we violate our own collective agreement or
face layoffs,” said Colleen Garbe, vice-president of CUPE Local 116. If the
union does not agree, the university will layoff two-thirds of the staff as
of Nov. 17, 2003.

“When you replace trained professional security staff with untrained
personnel in highly dangerous situations, you have a disaster waiting to
happen,” Garbe said.

“The volunteer Safewalk program is a wonderful supplement to a professional
security force,” she added. “But to place these young people in harm’s way
and compromise the safety of students, faculty and university staff is
unconscionable.”

Security staff are almost always the first response to a campus incident.
They are trained in conflict resolution, fire safety, emergency response,
first aid, CPR, crisis intervention, and have a Class 4 license to transport
passengers. Well-trained security is a crucial part of a safe campus.

Instead of improving safety, the university’s proposal has the campus
community up in arms. The women’s studies department has voiced concerns
about security levels on campus.

“CUPE 116 is committed to a safe campus, which is such a huge issue. If the
university wants to address scheduling issues, they need to meet with us,
not announce layoffs that jeopardize safety,” said Garbe. “Instead of
presenting us with a workable proposal, they gave us pink slips. We would
love to meet, but they won’t give us a proposal.”

-30-

Contact: Colleen Garbe, vice-president Canadian Union of Public Employees
Local 116
Phone:  604-809-6616 cellular or 604-822-6116 office.
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