VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – One-day job action at two Metro Vancouver post-secondary schools has caused disruption for students. But support staff at Simon Fraser University and Vancouver Community College say they had no choice.

Members from the two CUPE locals came together for a brief rally outside the downtown campus of the Vancouver Community College.

Heather Wallace works in the library there and says despite the disruption, students understand.

“A number of students have come up and said they are in support of us, but it’s regrettable that we have to do this,” Wallace explains. “I would rather not. But if we don’t stand up for ourselves, no one else will.”

Support staff were joined by others like John Shayler, who teaches English at VCC. He agrees students are generally on the side of the job action.

“Missing school is difficult for them but I think in many cases they understand the people who make their lives easier on a day-to-day basis through their support need their support as well,” Shayler says.

At SFU, some classes have been affected and transit routes at Burnaby Mountain have been altered.

Mediation between SFU and its support workers has resumed this afternoon.