A 72-hour strike notice was served Monday by CUPE 3799 representing support staff at the University of Northern British Columbia in an attempt to negotiate a new contract.
The union representing UNBC support staff, which includes campus security workers, food service employees, tradespeople, parking clerks and student housing service workers, follows CUPE workers at Simon Fraser University who served notice Friday. Three other post-secondary institutions have also served strike notice - Thompson Rivers University, the University of Victoria and UBC.
The support staff and teaching assistants have been without a new contract since 2010.
Lois Rugg, co-chair of the CUPE Universities Coordinated Bargaining Committee, said when they mentioned the filings at a regular meeting Monday in Vancouver it was meant with applause.
"We have been trying to bargain with these universities for more than two years - they have the money, they have the mandate, let's get to the table and make a deal."
The strike notice affects more than 12,000 CUPE workers at B.C.'s five public university campuses.
Under the B.C. liberals "zero mandate" in 2010 and 2011 workers were denied wage increases.