Members of the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA) have voted in favour of a strike vote. It’s a first in the history of the university’s 55 years as a post-secondary institute.
As of Monday morning, ULFA members voted 92 per cent in favour of strike action due to labour negotiations with the university’s board of governors, with 87 per cent of members voting to participate. Initial voting took place Feb. 3 and 4 with the use of an online ballot system.
“This is an extremely strong vote of confidence in our negotiating team,” said ULFA president Dan O’Donnell.
“Our members are seeking equity, parity, and above all, respect from the board. Over the last decade, our members have stepped up time and time again for our students and the university, only to see the board give us fewer and fewer resources.
“Our members have already given enough; they realize that it is time to stand up for the respect that they and our students deserve.”
In a news release, the UFLA states the vote came after nearly two years of inconclusive negotiations and two months of mediation. ULFA members have been without a contract since July 1, 2020.
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Unless a settlement is reached, faculty will go on strike at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Those teaching class at 11 a.m. will be allowed to finish their class period as an alternate strike duty with all teaching and service afterwards to be stopped until a settlement is reached.
According to the union, key issues include working conditions and money, saying UFLA members earn up to 17 per cent less than faculty at comparable universities.
“Our goal — always — is to settle, and the entire point of having a strike vote, especially one with such an overwhelming level of support, is to say to the sides: now is really the time to think through, do you really want to go through with this?’ Let’s meet at the table and settle,” O’Donnell said.
In response, the university has submitted an urgent interim application to delay the onset of any strike action, until the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) rules on its bad-faith bargaining complaint.
The school is also applying to the ALRB for a lockout, which would close university workplaces to ULFA members.
“The university hopes to proceed in a good-faith bargaining process that avoids strike action and leads to a fair and equitable agreement,” reads a statement from the school.
“The university has taken steps to mitigate the impact of a strike and will share contingency support plans with students, employees and other stakeholders in the coming days.”
Student union officials say this latest news is only adding to what has already been a turbulent school year, creating more stress for its members.
“(Students) have academic concerns and financial concerns with their living situations,” University of Lethbridge Students’ Union president Holly Kletke said. “Are students going to graduate? Are students going to get the full value of their semester?”
“With this vote, we hope the board will return to the table with a new attitude and work with us to find a fair settlement,” O’Donnell said. “The ULFA negotiating team is ready to find a way out of this impasse and we encourage the board to treat this message from their employees seriously.”
The union negotiating team met with the board of governors’ negotiating team on Feb. 1 and 4. Another meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 7.
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