MLA Neudorf clarifies U of L statements as strike surpasses one month

In an updated statement on Friday, March 11, he says he has been contacted by numerous people and learned some additional information on the U of L situation.

Neudorf offered a few points of clarification from his original post.

“I want to be perfectly clear, my top concern is for students. My greatest priority is for their education to be resumed, for their investments in courses, accommodations, food and living expenses to be considered, and for consideration to be made for their mental health.”

He recognized that the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA) represents a broad number of perspectives from both instructors and staff with many issues at stake, financial compensation being just one of them.

“My statement was meant solely to raise concern over the length of time this situation has taken to resolve. I apologize for the fact that my concern came across as accusation, as that was unintended.”

Neudorf acknowledged that the U of L’s Board of Governors also plays a large part in the negotiation process.

“As a member of the Legislative Assembly, I have absolutely no involvement in these negotiations and I am not privy to any details of the individual positions presented.”

“However, as the MLA for Lethbridge East, I will take the advice of those who have contacted me and pursue further information and understanding. As demonstrated by other institutions in Alberta over the past weeks, I urge those involved to do their utmost to resolve these negotiations expediently, for the sake of the students.”

Faculty members have been on strike for a full month now, first hitting the picket lines on February 10, 2022.

Educators have been without contracts for 619 days as of this publication, as their most recent collective agreement expired on June 30, 2020.

Negotiations between the Board and ULFA have been largely unsuccessful to this point.

Both sides have publicly taken jabs at each other and accused the opposing side of being unwilling to make substantial progress at the bargaining table.

The ULFA maintains that their demands are reasonable and are important to ensure the university does not lose its competitive edge to comparable post-secondary schools.

The U of L Board, however, has been saying that they cannot afford these requests, especially in the wake of newly-announced budget cuts.

They have now entered enhanced mediation, although both sides were quick to point out that this will not guarantee that a new collective agreement will be reached.

Neudorf’s counterpart, Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips, has been openly supportive of the ULFA and has joined educators for numerous rallies.

Below, you can read Neudorf’s original statement from Wednesday and his updated one from Friday.

by David Opinko

MLA Neudorf clarifies U of L statements as strike surpasses one month

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