The strike by the 400-member Wilfrid Laurier University Staff Association ended Nov. 4 after ratification for a new collective agreement. The university's support staff had been on strike since Sept. 16, over contracting out, hours of work, job security, compensation and benefit improvements. The three-year contract calls for wage increases of 3% retroactive to July 1, 2002, 3% on July 1, 2003, and 3% on July 1, 2004, improvements to the benefit plans and contracting out provisions that provide an employment guarantee for any members whose position may be affected.