University of Manitoba’s support staff have voted 87 per cent in favor of a strike, amid problems negotiating a contract that expired in October of last year.

Frank Wright, chair of the Canadian Auto Workers Local 3007 bargaining unit which represents the workers, said fair treatment of support staff is the union’s main concern.

“The president [of the university] just received a $40,000 increase in salary. The faculty is getting a 10 per cent increase, but they want to keep our salaries at a standstill,” Wright said.

CAW local 3007 represents 450 workers in food services, groundskeeping, caretaking, skilled trades and power engineering at the university.

According to Wright, those that are the most vulnerable are food services staff. He said the university is attacking their basic rights by trying to get rid of their benefits.

Wright said their willingness to hold negotiations with the university past the expiration date of their contract shows their loyalty to the school.

He said he doesn’t see a strike date in the near future, saying neither the union nor the university want a strike on their hands.

Talks between the two parties are still ongoing, and there are a number of meetings scheduled for the coming weeks, he said.

As for the students, the university said there are measures set in place to make sure their studies at the university are not disrupted.

Heather Laube, president of the University of Mantioba’s Student Union, said students are hoping for a quick and fair resolution between the university and support staff.

“We work very closely with all the unions on campus and a lot of the issues that affect them, affect us as well,” Laube said.

Support staff went on strike for a little over a week in October 2007, facing similar issues with the university.

Wright said the students were disrupted to a minimum when the staff temporarily blocked the main road going into the school.

“This time, if we go on strike, we will completely shut down the university,” Wright said.

“But that won’t happen unless negotiations between the university completely break down.”

Laube, who came out of a meeting with the support staff union Jan. 21, said the students are being kept up to date with the negotiations.