CUPE 3886 argues the work should be done by unionized workers, not outside contractors
Rendering via the University of Victoria.
The John Horgan Campus in Langford has found itself caught in a dispute between Royal Roads University (RRU) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3886 — which provides custodial and housekeeping services, trades and technical support, and groundskeeping work for RRU — with the union arguing that grounds work could be done more cost-effectively by its in-house members.
This dispute raises questions for students about how campus finances, including their fees, are being managed.
At the John Horgan Campus in Langford, which opened in September 2025 and offers courses from a number of institutions, including RRU, UVic, and Camosun College, some students have noticed landscaping work being carried out by private contractors rather than the union staff responsible for the primary RRU campus.
For RRU students, the issue extends beyond landscaping and labour jurisdiction, and into their own wallets. With the union’s claim of offering more labour for less money, some students feel uncertain about how their tuition and other finances are being managed. Matthew Gosselin, a student at the John Horgan Campus, spoke with the Martlet about those concerns.
He describes the multi-institution model used at the John Horgan Campus as a cool concept, but one that doesn’t always function smoothly. “There’s definitely a lot of miscommunication,” he said, noting that events, updates, or maintenance work sometimes occur without instructors or students being informed. He pointed to an IT update earlier that morning, which he said temporarily disabled classroom software, leaving his program without access to essential online tools and prevented them from being able to complete work for most of the morning.
Gosselin added that he feels like students aren’t being considered to the extent that they should be, saying that while his voice isn’t disregarded, it feels like “a spot further down the line.”
He said he noticed that grounds work was being performed by private contractors rather than unionized staff, and learning this made him question how financial decisions for the campus are made. “Absolutely, it [raises questions,]” he said. “There’s a lot of other things … that the money can go to that are better managed.”
When asked about the campus relying on in-house, unionized employees as long as they reduce overall costs, Gosselin said he would welcome it. “If it comes to reducing costs, then absolutely,” he said. Gosselin also expressed further concern about where money is going and whether or not students properly understand what they’re paying for.
The collective agreement between CUPE 3886 and RRU acknowledges groundskeeping roles as CUPE bargaining positions, with the work usually being carried out by unionized staff. Because of this, CUPE believes the work should be done by union staff. However, the collective agreement does not clearly define what counts as “maintenance” and what counts as “capital improvements” — long-term maintenance projects which add value to property — leaving RRU with the ability to contract work externally.
A representative of CUPE, who has asked to remain anonymous, believes the grounds work at the John Horgan Campus should be performed by unionized staff because those positions “are a part of [CUPE 3886’s] bargaining unit.” When asked whether ancillary fees contribute to this kind of work, the representative said that they were not familiar with how those fees are set or allocated.
The representative said that the cost difference between union labour and non-union contract work is often substantial, and that students may not fully understand just how little on-the-ground work they receive for their money.
“For the same cost of what an external contractor would charge … you’re maybe getting eight hours out of them for the week,” they said, adding that a union employee for the same cost would be on site full-time, and provide a “better return on investment.”
They added that external contract work is often task-based, with the intention of “getting jobs done as efficiently and [well] as possible, but to move onto your next project,” whereas unionized staff would be solely responsible for the campus and its long term maintenance.
The representative also added that the union has struggled to get information on what RRU considers “basic maintenance” and what is treated as a long term capital project.
“It’s … a gray area,” they said, noting that CUPE does not have input into how these categorical decisions are made. The representative argued that providing clearer definitions and stronger communication would benefit students just as much as the union. “I know how hard it can be … to get information on what’s going on on the campus operationally,” they said. “So for a student, I can only imagine [how difficult it would be.]”
According to the representative, increasing communication between students and the union would help in managing campus resources, especially those paid for by students.
The Martlet reached out to RRU for comment, but they did not respond by the given deadline.
As the John Horgan Campus settles into its first year of operation, some students and unionized staff feel that broader questions around transparency, responsibility and cost have gone unanswered. Both students and members of CUPE believe that clarity and stronger internal staffing would benefit all parties involved.
Until the university, union, and contributing educational partners can determine what counts as maintenance, what qualifies as capital work, and who is responsible for what, students and employees are left to navigate a campus where the behind-the-scenes decisions don’t always feel visible. As the fall term winds down, and students head into the holiday break, both students and CUPE members hope the new year brings clarity.
