A second group of University of Windsor employees may be walking off the job unless a new contract is reached by Sunday night.
Some 16 employees of the school's Energy Conversion Centre (ECC), represented by Unifor Local 2458, could strike if a new agreement can't be reached.
Local 2458 Secretary-Treasurer Mike Kisch said two other U of W bargaining units have new deals, and those early talks were required by university budget cuts.
"I've been to every round of bargaining since 1998, even before we were CAW, and have not quite seen a round of bargaining like this, where there are still concessions on the table this late in the game," said Kisch. "We're hopeful to get a deal. We're committed to being at the table, we're going to remain at the table until we have a situation where we may have a work stoppage."
The ECC, an on-campus facility nicknamed "The Rocket", is responsible for the 24/7 ventilation of campus buildings, as well the providing of heat during the winter and air conditioning in the summer.
Kisch said the importance of the workers became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"If that taught us anything, they are critical," said Kisch. "They are critical to the operation of the University of Windsor. We do not want to have any sort of negative disruptions to the students, but we have to make sure we take care of our members and their families."
Wages and pensions are among the sticking points.
ECC employees could walk off the job at the same time as members of the Special Constable Service, the campus police service. Those 26 members, represented by Local 444, may also walk off the job at midnight on Sunday.
Fall classes at the University are expected to begin on Tuesday as scheduled.
A request for comment made to the university by WindsorNewsToday.ca was not immediately returned.