Vote this weekend on contract offer to striking faculty at Laurentian University

While it’s not a tentative agreement, striking faculty at Laurentian University will vote this weekend on the administration’s latest offer to end the strike.

Members of the Laurentian University Faculty Association will vote on a new contract proposal this weekend that emerged after two days of mediated talks in Sudbury.

In a news release, Laurentian University said that LUFA had agreed to share the latest offer with its members and would hold a “vote this coming weekend and potential ratification.”

“The university remains hopeful that the current labour stoppage will be resolved and that classes could resume as early as the middle of next week,” LU said in a statement.

“We will continue to provide updates as they become available.”

LUFA represents tenure-track faculty, limited-term faculty, master lecturers, librarians, sessionals, clinicians and professional staff at Laurentian.

They have been on strike since Jan. 19 seeking improvements to salaries, pensions and workloads.

Faculty were hard hit when LU declared insolvency in 2021, with deep cuts to programs and staffing. LUFA said after making sacrifices, it’s looking to make up some of what it lost.

Laurentian has maintained that it has offered a fair contract to LUFA and that accepting the union’s demand wouldn’t be fiscally responsible.

In an email to CTV News, LUFA president Fabrice Colin said the union is not taking a stance on the contract offer.

“The employer has provided LUFA with a package that it has characterized as a final take it or leave it’ offer,” Colin said.

“LUFA is presenting the package for members’ consideration only. LUFA is not recommending acceptance or rejection. LUFA will provide full information and context to support members in their decision-making. The membership will decide whether they want to accept the deal, and the path forward.”

Picket lines will remain in place ahead of Sunday’s vote, which is scheduled for 10 a.m.