U of M strike: international students anxious about ongoing strike

International students at the University of Manitoba say they are feeling worried on day 10 of the faculty's strike.

Bargaining teams representing the school's administration and the University of Manitoba Faculty Association met Thursday. It's unclear whether any progress was made in the negotiations andadministration officials told CBC they are willing to work through the Remembrance Day weekend to reach a resolution.

Stefan Aganbi, international student representative at the University of Manitoba Students' Union, said he's worried about a prolonged strike.

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Overseas studentspay tuition of up to three times higher than Canadian students and many are frustrated, he said. International students make up about 17 per cent of the nearly 30,000 students at the university.

"It's been tough," said Aganbi who originally from Nigeria and studying science at the University of Manitoba. Paying for things like food and board while unable school feels like money wasted, he said.

"Since we are paying so much we want to make sure we are paying for as many things as possible at the same time," he said.

Tuition for international students at the University of Manitoba ranges between $17,200 and $30,000, according to the school's website. Canadian students pay between $7,000 and $19,800.

Aganbi said on top of added financial costs,international students are also concerned their study permits may expire before they complete the school term.

On Friday, the university's senate approved changes to the academic schedules depending on the length of the strike. In one plan, if the strike ends late November, exams will be pushed back to late January.

"If the strike goes on for a month and your study permit expires within that deadline, you have to apply for a new one.If you get turned down then you have to go home," said Aganbi.

Rami Patel said he is working hard to improve his GPA to transfer from the arts department into the Asper School of Business.Right now, three out of his five classes are cancelled due to the strike.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Patel said.

"Hopefully everything ends pretty soon."

There are 5,079 international students studying at the University of Manitoba this year, an increase of 4.7 per cent from 2015.

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