Saint Mary’s University part-time faculty votes in favour of possible strike

A majority of Saint Mary’s University part-time faculty has voted in favour of job action following nearly a year of negotiations.

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3912, which represents roughly 150 part-time instructors at the Halifax university, said talks hit an impasse last Thursday. Workers then voted 87 per cent in favour of a strike.

“We made every effort to identify the issues that are most pressing to our members and came to Thursday’s conciliation meeting ready to get a deal,” said Lauren McKenzie, president of CUPE 3912, in a news release. “Unfortunately, the employer was unwilling to engage on any ‘non-monetary’ proposals— that is, they wouldn’t discuss any issue except wages.”

CUPE 3912 says key issues include improved stipends and proposals on faculty appointments and contract timelines. The union is also looking for guaranteed work for instructors who have taught for at least three consecutive years.

“We have absolutely zero job security,” says Erica Fischer, a part-time instructor and vice president with CUPE 3912. “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.”

CUPE 3912 claims part-time faculty members at Saint Mary’s University are among the lowest paid university instructors in Canada.

The union’s previous collective agreement with the university expired in August 2024.

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