Dalhousie University says no future conciliation dates set with union

Dalhousie University says there are no further conciliation dates scheduled with the faculty association.

Dalhousie University’s board of governors and a union representing nearly 1,000 professors, librarians, instructors and professional counsellors continued their conciliation talks on Tuesday as a lockout nears the three-week mark.

The university locked out the Dalhousie Faculty Association on Aug. 20 following months of negotiations for a new collective agreement. Their previous deal expired at the end of June.

Both parties resumed talks with a provincially-appointed conciliator on Monday. In a joint statement, the university and the union said the conciliator directed them to return to the bargaining table at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The university says the conciliator ended the meeting at 4 p.m. and at this time there are no further conciliation dates scheduled.

Prior to the Monday meeting, the Association said the board of governors’ bargaining team was not acting in good faith.

“We are dealing with an unprofessional and unpredictable bargaining partner trying to undermine the collective bargaining process to sow division and confusion,” said union president Dave Westwood in previous news release. “The DFA Bargaining Team met again (Thursday) afternoon, and agreed that the only way to conclude a new collective agreement is at the bargaining table under the supervision of a conciliation officer.”

Last month the union filed a complaint with the Nova Scotia Department of Labour over the university’s use of public messages to directly bargain with members.

The Association is seeking a 14.25 per cent wage increase over three years while the university has previously said its final offer is a six per cent increase over three years. The union is also looking for expanded parental leave benefits and expanded access to child care, among other things.

The lockout has suspended many classes at Dalhousie, which started its fall semester on Sept. 2.

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