MEDIA RELEASE
October 30, 2009
Nipissing Faculty Bargaining to Reach the “Ontario Standard” and
Maintain Quality of Education for Students
The Nipissing University administration and the Nipissing Faculty
Association (NUFA) have been engaged in contract talks for 247 days.
NUFA represents all 178 of the university’s full-time professors who
are bargaining to make certain that the quality education implied by
Nipissing’s motto “one student at a time” continues to be realized.
The professors' contract expired on April 30, 2009.
NUFA is bargaining for an academic workload that ensures
student-centred teaching and research is maintained at Nipissing.
NUFA is also working to establish a working environment conducive to
recruiting and retaining qualified faculty who will help make
Nipissing University a top-notch small university and will invest in
the North Bay community.
NUFA is bargaining for reasonable limits on the accelerating
casualization of the professoriate as too many professors are on
limited-term and part-time contracts. This creates instability and
inhibits investment in the university and the North Bay community.
Finally, NUFA is bargaining for a working environment that reflects
the “Ontario Standard” when compared to other universities in the
province. Currently, Nipissing professors are far behind their
counterparts and losing ground at an alarming rate.
This week the NUFA Executive received an overwhelming strike mandate
from its Membership, obtaining 95.8% support. The NUFA Executive
realizes that a labour disruption would have significant implications
for students and the entire North Bay community. Indeed, professors’
primary desire is always to be in the classroom working with students.
However, negotiations cannot continue indefinitely. The Association
and the University will be in a strike/lockout position by Monday,
November 9th but the Association has made no final decision regarding
a deadline for negotiations.
Talks continue this weekend and will hopefully continue until a deal
is reached. Let’s make it happen.
If you have any further questions please contact Todd Horton,
President of NUFA via email at NUFA-Ontario-Standard@hotmail.com or by
telephone at 705-474-3461 ext. 4499.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
So if they don't come to a final decision by Sunday there will be a strike, did I get that right?
ReplyDeleteAnd if there's a strike, then classes will be cancelled, no?
NO! You didn't read it right. THEY ARE STILL TALKING! and as the release says...
ReplyDelete"The Association and the University will be in a strike/lockout position by MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH but the association has made NO FINAL DECISION regarding a deadline for negotiations"
Remember this is only the FULL-TIME Faculty! SO, not all classes will be canceled.
The comment about only full-time faculty is not really true. If they go to strike it may be difficult for session lecturers or other support staff members to cross picket lines. It can influence the offering of all classes. But, it is true that a strike would not happen until after November 9 IF a compromise is not made by then.
ReplyDeleteIn Ontario its an easy thing to get through picket lines. They can't legally prevent anyone from coming to work. OPSEU members would still have to come to work to get paid. CASBU and the newly hired contract replacement workers will also be able to get through.
ReplyDelete