Nipissing University student union head hopes for speedy strike resolution

The president of the Nipissing University Student Union says hehopes both sides remember the 5,000 students whose education is on hold as a strike at the school enters its second day.

About 170 faculty walked off the job yesterday after contract talks broke down.

Union president Ian Hall said he hopes to pressure the two sides to get back to the table.

"We do understand that the university and the faculty each have to bargain and we do respect their rights to do so.All the same, we hope that the disruption to students can remain in the forefront of everyone's mind," he said.

The main issues in the dispute are staffing levels and professor salaries, which the Nipissing faculty union claims are the lowest in the province.

Hallsaidhe's heard a range of views from students.He says some support the professors, others support the administration and others just want the strike to be over.

He saidmany students are already frustrated that a deal couldn't be reached and he expects that feeling will grow the longer the strike goes on.

Nipissing's students are mostly centredat the North Bay campus, though there aretwo smaller satellite schools in Bracebridge and Brantford.