Small group of students protests NOSM strike

As the Northern Ontario School of Medicine strike continues to drag on, a small group of Lakehead University students are voicing their displeasure over how the strike has impacted their access to the school.

The students who took part in the protest said they're sick and tired of being late for classes because of the time it takes to cross the picket lines at the University’s entrances.
Students say the wait at the Ontario Public Service Employees Union picket lines can be half an hour or more. Rally organizer Sabrina Elliot said many students, especially those with children, can't afford to leave themselves the extra travel time.

She added that students pay thousands of dollars to get an education and she's calling on the University to reimburse students because of the inconvenience they are facing.

Elliot said she was expecting about 200 people at this afternoon's rally, and believes confusion over the location may have played a factor in the meager attendance. About five students were actively participating in the rally by 1 p.m.

OPSEU pickets were not present at the Balmoral Street entrance at the time of the rally.

Contract talks between the union and the medical school were ongoing in Sudbury Friday, and they're expected to continue into the weekend.