UWOFA: OFL President to Join UWO Librarians & Archivists

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 14, 2011) - Sid Ryan, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), is traveling to London, Ontario to show solidarity with striking University of Western Ontario (UWO) librarians and archivists.

Ryan will join the picket line on Wednesday, September 14, at 3:30 p.m. in front of the university's main gates on Richmond St.

Unionized librarians and archivists went on strike September 8^th after mediated talks with the Western administration broke down.

"His visit will provide a big boost to our members," said Bryce Traister, UWOFA President. "It demonstrates that we have the support of unionized workers across Ontario."

"Western's librarians and archivists deserve this level of attention from one of Canada's top labour leaders," said Jim Turk, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). "It demonstrates that their issues are national issues."

Outstanding issues at the table include: a long-standing pay gap of 20 per cent between Western Librarians and Archivists - most of whom are women - and colleagues at comparative universities in Ontario. Other issues include staff complement and workload.

The 50 unionized librarians and archivists have been without a contract since June 30, 2011.

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