Press Release: University of New Brunswick has the highest number of sexual violence cases reported in universities across the province

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION                                                                        February 17, 2016

University of New Brunswick has the highest number of sexual violence cases reported in universities across the province

FREDERICTON, NB – Negotiating team for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) representing the Union of Graduate Student Workers (UGSW), Local 60550, at the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton and Saint John) is not surprised from the CBC News report which highlights that the University of New Brunswick has the highest amount of sexual violence cases reported from September 1 and December 9, 2015 making it the university with highest number of cases reported across the province.

PSAC’s negotiator, Larry Gagnon is not surprised about the report: “Our members have brought these important issues to our attention more than three years ago and that’s why we are trying to protect these workers in relation to sexual and personal harassment, abuse of authority, violence in the workplace and whistleblowing.”  Gagnon added: “We’ve been at the bargaining table since 2013 and these are extremely important issues that the administration simply will not make any further improvement on and that is totally unacceptable to the membership.”

This group represents approximately 400 workers employed as graduate student teaching assistants and or graduate student research assistants at the University of New Brunswick in both Fredericton and Saint John.  The members will be holding a strike vote the week of March 14-18, 2016. 

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Contacts:

Sébastien Bezeau, Regional Political Communications Officer, PSAC, (cell) 902.266.8589