SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton University Faculty Association (CBUFA) has voted in support of a strike.
More than 92 per cent of the membership voted in this week’s strike vote. 136 voted in favor of the motion, 14 voted against. The membership has 162 members. Of those that voted, almost 91 per cent voted in favour of strike action.
The strike vote was initiated by a lack of progress after a month of negotiations between CBUFA and the Employer.
“While frustrating, this is not surprising,” CBUFA president Calvin Howley said in a news release. “Stalled negotiations have become common practice not only at CBU but at other Nova Scotia universities.
CBUFA began negotiations in early July with the hope that a new contract would be in place before the start of the fall term. CBUFA, with the Employer, filed for joint conciliation and the province has appointed Peter Lloyd as the conciliator.
Conciliation is scheduled for Nov. 13-14. The unresolved issues include equitable and fair teaching and research support and wages. The employer’s current proposal includes an annual 1.5% increase in wages.
“Three years ago while facing declining enrollment, deficits and potential layoffs, the association settled for a 1.25 per cent annual increase in wages,” Howley said. “Since then, faculty have been called upon to assist with recruiting. Now, with an enrollment increase above 67 per cent, faculty have risen to the challenges such a significant increase brings.”
“Given President Dingwall’s experience in contract negotiation, we were hoping for a different tone of negotiation from the employer.”
CBUFA currently represents professors, librarians, archivists, lab instructors, nursing practice educators, writing centre advisors, and research chairs.
