‘Last-ditch effort’ talks between universities and part-time workers’ union

A mandatory two-week cooling-off period is happening between the union representing part-time workers at three Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions before talks can resume.

According to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) president local 3912, next week is the last time before workers could force job action. The union is meeting with Dalhousie University on Monday, followed by Mount Saint Vincent and St. Mary’s universities on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“These meetings are set up as a real last-ditch effort to get the parties to the table and to get deals signed before we have to have any kind of job action or labour disruption,” Lauren McKenzie, the president of the local CUPE chapter, told The Todd Veinotte Show on Wednesday.

If no deals are reached, workers are in a legal strike position immediately following the meetings, McKenzie explained.

One of the sticking points is pay. According to McKenzie, the part-time faculty members are some of the lowest paid in Canada, even though the pay of the top brass at the university keeps pace with rising costs and tuition increases.

“Our wages have stagnated to the point that we cannot live with what we are paid,” she said.

Other issues raised by the union include no job security, no health benefits or pension.

The union president did not explicitly say whether classes would be disrupted if a strike were to occur. The union represents instructors, like teaching assistants, demonstrators and part-time faculty.

If it does happen, it will be the second labour disruption affecting the Dalhousie community this year. In August, approximately 1,000 librarians, professors and other teaching staff were locked out after failed talks between the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) and the school.