Part-time faculty at 3 N.S. universities could go on strike at end of month: CUPE

Saint Mary's University in Halifax is pictured. (Source: Facebook/Saint Mary's University)

Three Nova Scotia universities could be on the edge of strikes by part-time faculty members if negotiations don’t produce new collective agreements later this month.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3912 represents part-time faculty at Dalhousie University, Mount Saint Vincent University and Saint Mary’s University. All three groups are in negotiations for new collective agreements after their previous separate deals expired in August 2024.

Erica Fischer, vice-president for Saint Mary’s part-time faculty group with CUPE 3912, said the bargaining teams for the universities will have their final meetings in two weeks. If the parties walk away without a new deal, staff could go on strike.

“I’m hopeful, but I don’t know,” Fischer said. “I hope we reach an agreement, but we are preparing for a strike.”

Saint Mary’s

CUPE 3912 represents roughly 150 part-time instructors at Saint Mary’s. Its members voted 87 per cent in favour of a strike in September following nearly a year of negotiations.

The union is seeking improved stipends and proposals on faculty appointments and contract timelines. They are also looking for guaranteed work for instructors who have taught with the university for at least three consecutive years.

“We have absolutely zero job security,” Fischer said in an earlier news release. “We have separate contracts for every single class we teach, and we apply and re-apply for those contracts, every single term, for every single class. No one has any guarantee they’ll be employed a few months down the road. We have been working like this for years.”

Fischer said the union will have its final meeting with Saint Mary’s on Oct. 22.

Delia Macpherson, manager of media relations and issues management with Saint Mary’s, said they cannot comment on the ongoing negotiations, but noted they are “committed to fair agreements reached in good faith.”

“Saint Mary’s University deeply values our faculty, librarians, and staff,” Macpherson said.

Dalhousie

CUPE 3912 represents part-time faculty and teaching assistants at Dalhousie University. Its members voted more than 87 per cent in favour of a strike action in August.

The bargaining process began last spring.

The union is seeking wage increases that reflect the cost of living in Halifax, job security and health care.

The union and university had a conciliation meeting on Oct. 2, and they will have another one on Oct. 20.

“Our goal, as always, is to use our strong strike mandate to secure a fair deal at the bargaining table,” CUPE 3912 said in a news release. “If conciliation fails, we will be ready to take job action.”

Janet Bryson, director of strategic communications and media relations with Dalhousie, said they “remain optimistic that a deal can be reached.”

The university recently settled a strike with its full-time faculty. That job action suspended three weeks of courses in the fall semester.

Mount Saint Vincent

Bargaining for the Mount Saint Vincent part-time faculty started in April. They had a conciliation meeting with the university on Aug. 26.

Employees are asking for wage increases, the removal of restrictions on members’ academic freedom to teach and assess, protection from being disciplined for working outside the university and reforms to the evaluation process.

Fischer said the CUPE 3912 will have a meeting with the university on Oct. 21.

Gillian Batten, director of communications and marketing with Mount Saint Vincent, said they hope to reach a renewed collective agreement at the meeting.

“We value the work of our part-time faculty, and as in any negotiations, we aim to reach a fair agreement with CUPE Local 3912 that also maintains our focus on students, is reflective of our academic mission, and is financially sustainable,” Batten said. “We remain optimistic that a labour disruption can be avoided, however, we are taking the prudent step of planning for the possibility.”

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