MONTREAL - The thicket of pickets at the entrance to McGill has been ordered away.

So the 1,700 striking support staffers have shifted on over to the offices of McGill's Board of Governors.

The union workers believe that their less-visible strategy will be equally effective.

"We're hoping that the board of governors will put pressure on the administration at McGill University and get them to go back to the bargaining table and to bargain fairly with us and give us a fair contract," said Kevin Whittaker, President of MUNACA.

The union has complained that McGill has been slow in discussing monetary issues in the negotiations.

But the school has denied that it's skirting the cash compensation question.

"In Quebec the monetary issues are kept for last. So that is something that's being decided by the conciliator," said McGill's Michael Di Grappa.

Students are concerned about the strike's deleterious effect on such services as, "health, financial services, the officer of student disabilities, and academics. People are worried about their labs not being able to continue effectively," said Emil Yee Clare, of the McGill Student Union.

The court injunction that forces picketers from McGill's main entrances expires on October 13.