Northern Ontario School of Medicine picket lines caused some traffic delays as Lakehead University’s first day of orientation began Thursday.
Although each vehicle entering campus was stopped by members of Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union Local 677, new student orientation and commuter services officer Brendon Hughes said he hadn’t heard any complaints from students or parents as of late Thursday morning.
“It’s business as usual for us,” he said. “We understand there is a strike on the border of campus but we just ask people to be patient and we’re here to focus on orientation and welcome the students as best we can.”
Lakehead University Student Union president Mike Snoddon said wait times at the campus entrances have varied, but they are particularly busy in the mornings around 8:30 a.m. when classes begin. And with Thursday being move-in day at the university’s residence, he anticipated them to be longer that day.
“I understand it’s stressful and an inconvenience for students, faculty, staff and community members,” he said. “However, this is something the student union cannot control and we’re just asking for respect and safety right now.”
Snoddon said the entire university community has felt the pressure from the pickets.
“They want to be off the line. We want to see them off the line,” he said.
NOSM’s administrative, clerical and technical staff has been on strike since Aug. 16 and talks are scheduled for Sept. 14 to 17 in Thunder Bay between the union and the school. The main issues are hours of work, wages, sick leaves, overtime and forming a first collective agreement.
Picket captain Shelby Dunahee said despite some minor delays, Thursday was one of the best on the line.
“A lot of people are coming through; they’re excited,” she said. “They’re moving in their grandchildren or their sons and their daughters. I feel a bit of a connection with them because I went to Lakehead myself.”
People were generally accommodating, Dunahee said, noting with move-in day, delays are expected regardless of a strike.
“We’ve been moving people through at a very steady pace,” she said. “We’re not keeping people too long. We understand people might get a little frustrated … on a good day in Thunder Bay without a strike, you get people who are frustrated so it’s not too bad today.
Thunder Bay Transit isn’t crossing the picket line at the university and life for students who rely on public transportation could get a bit more complicated if a transit strike occurs in the near future.
Snodden said they’re in talks with the city about what will happen if there is a service disruption, but they’re asking students to be patient and work with their contingency plans.
“We’re directing students to our carpool site on lusu.ca to have students, faculty, staff and community members sing up to offer carpooling to and from the school,” he said. “We’re looking into other options right now but we’re waiting until orientation calms down in order to move forward on that.”
