Hundreds of courses at two universities in Halifax have been halted as a result of a strike by part-time faculty members over contract negotiations deadlock. The union representing these faculty members has identified compensation and job security as key issues in the impasse.
Part-time academic staff at Mount Saint Vincent University initiated the strike on Wednesday, followed by those at Saint Mary’s University on Thursday. Both groups have been without a contract since the previous year.
According to Lauren McKenzie, president of the union local representing the part-time faculty, the current pay rates are insufficient, forcing many members to struggle to make ends meet. This financial strain leaves little time for academic pursuits, making full-time tenured positions unattainable for many.
Mount Saint Vincent University reported that 337 classes taught by part-time faculty have been suspended, while a list on Saint Mary’s website indicates approximately 300 classes have been affected.
The dispute primarily revolves around compensation, as stated by Karen White, the associate vice-president of university relations at Mount Saint Vincent. The university is facing a projected $1.59-million deficit this year and will need to dip into reserves and control expenses.
The union members’ decision to strike disappointed the university, with White emphasizing the importance of resuming negotiations to reach a resolution and allow students to resume classes.
The strike at these institutions follows a lockout of about 1,000 professors and teaching staff at Dalhousie University in late August, which disrupted the start of the academic year. Both Mount Saint Vincent and Saint Mary’s have a total of about 475 part-time faculty members under active contract.
Compensation for teaching a one-semester course is around $6,200 at Mount Saint Vincent and $6,100 at Saint Mary’s for part-time faculty. The union argues that these rates are below those of similar-sized post-secondary institutions and is seeking an increase to bring them up to par.
Apart from compensation, job stability is also a key concern for union members, who are seeking greater assurances of future employment. The universities have expressed commitment to reaching a fair agreement and prioritizing student success and teaching continuity.
Both Mount Saint Vincent and Saint Mary’s universities are facing financial challenges, with dropping international student enrollment and limited provincial funding contributing to the strain. The hope is that negotiations will resume soon to resolve the ongoing dispute.
