U of L Faculty vote 92% to strike, could start Thursday

“ULFA’s repeated demand for double-digit percentage salary increases – nearly three times greater than those already accepted by nurses and public sector workers, and after both sides had negotiated to within a 1% salary gap – is out-of-touch with today’s economic and workplace realities,” the Board said in a statement on February 7 following the strike vote.

Things reached a fever pitch towards the end of January after the Board sent out a notice that explained what could happen if educators were to go on strike, which included the possibility of prolonged instructional delays resulting in “the loss of the entire Spring 2022 semester.”

Some staff and students perceived this to be a direct threat to students, promoting over 200 people to protest.

“No university in Canada has ever lost this semester due to strike action,” says ULFA President Dan O’Donnell. “The longest strike ever in Canadian post-secondary was at York University for three months, and they didn’t lose the semester, and we felt it was really inappropriate for an administration who one assumes already knows this to nevertheless use that in order to scare students. Students have suffered enough through COVID, through [a] really intense period during the last two years, and we just feel that we shouldn’t be playing games with student anxiety.”

With two days of secret ballots being cast last week, membership at the ULFA voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike with an 87 per cent participation rate.

O’Donnell says this was the first strike vote by faculty in the university’s history.

“This is an extremely strong vote of confidence in our negotiating team. 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 realise that it is time to stand up for the respect that they and our students deserve.”

In response to the strike vote, the Board has submitted an application to delay the onset of any strike action.

Chief Bargainer Locke Spencer adds that the issues involve working conditions and money.

“The main issues are improved benefits and support for our most vulnerable members, restoring collegial governance and respect, and reversing years of economic decline. University of Lethbridge Faculty members earn up to 17% less than faculty at comparable universities.”

With the vote now complete, the ULFA must provide a 72-hour notice for a strike, meaning the protest can start Thursday morning assuming the two sides are not able to reach a deal before then.

While Faculty are legally able to go on strike later this week, O’Donnell states that he would still like to avoid one if at all possible.

“Nobody goes on strike just because they want to go on strike. Most strikes votes, in fact, don’t lead to a strike because it really helps concentrate the mind and people sit down and then try to make that settlement happen. That’s always been our hope. That hasn’t changed, and our hope is that the board shares that interest, and you know, right now they are meeting, so with a bit of luck, maybe we can find a way forward.”

The Board and ULFA met twice last week and it looked like things were starting to turn around for the better.

“Some progress was made on February 1st in discussion of Schedule B (Economic Benefits). There was movement towards the creation of Professional Supplement funds for Sessional Lecturers, and the Board expressed a limited and conditional willingness to consider creating a joint committee to oversee benefits, as ULFA has repeatedly proposed,” reads an update from the ULFA dated January 3.

by David Opinko

U of L Faculty vote 92% to strike, could start Thursday

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