University of Lethbridge lockout begins

Feb 11, 2022 | 4:34 PM

Lethbridge, AB – Faculty at the University of Lethbridge have been locked out.

Members of the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA) are legally prohibited from accessing University workspaces as of 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 11, 2022.

In a statement from the U of L, “The University has taken lockout action to ensure a consistent, safe, and legal approach to managing the impacts of the ULFA strike.”

The University added, “it also defends our commitment to students, by precluding any unfair circumstances in which ULFA members might be enabled to conduct non-essential research for professional and academic benefit, while at the same time withholding instructional services from students.”

Non-ULFA employees and students will still be able to access campus buildings, and ULFA members will still be able to access the University’s daycare facilities.

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The lockout comes just one day after the ULFA began strike action, 591 days after the union’s collective agreement with the University ended.

Strikers have been picketing at three different locations: outside of the main campus in West Lethbridge, the downtown location, and the Calgary campus.

The University of Lethbridge stated that a major holdout for negotiations is the ULFA asking for a 12 per cent raise.

“Requesting an additional 12% raise is out of step with the economic and workplace realities faced by Albertans and all post-secondary institutions.”

The ULFA responded, saying that the demand for 12% raises is a lie, and what it’s actually asking for is “roughly the equivalent of five per cent.”

The ULFA says finances are just one part of the negotiations.

by Jerran Fisher