Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA) members have been in the midst of a vote to authorize a potential strike after 40 days of bargaining with Queen’s University, following the expiration of their previous collective agreement on June 30.
According to the QUFA website, the organization is the bargaining agent for over 1,000 faculty, librarians, and archivists at Queen’s University.
Although QUFA and Queen’s University agreed to a government conciliator to help with bargaining and QUFA withdrew some of their proposals, an agreement has not yet been reached.
Karen Rudie, QUFA president, detailed that negotiations have been respectful, but ultimately they have not seen results at this time.
“We’re at a point where there’s not progress being made, and their responses to what we are reasonably asking are not forthcoming,” said Rudie.
She said that one of the key issues QUFA seeks to resolve with the Queen’s University administration is job security for faculty who do not hold tenured positions.
“We are looking to enhance those pathways to permanence and have their salaries reflect pay equity,” said Rudie, discussing members of QUFA who do not have tenure.
“We want our equity and collegial governance to be taken seriously… we’re asking for very reasonable things,” Rudie continued.
Rudie explained that QUFA does not want to strike and hopes that it will not occur, but believes that a strike vote is necessary at this stage of the bargaining process.
“A strike is always very unpleasant, not just for QUFA members but for the students and everyone else,” Rudie said.
“The hope would be if it’s an effective strike, it ends very quickly.”
According to Rudie, multiple steps from both parties would have to occur after the vote for a strike to occur. If a strike occurs, it would be the first-ever faculty strike at Queen’s University.
In a statement to YGK News, Queen’s University said that while all negotiations are professional, they are not without challenges.
While a strike vote is not the desired outcome, they say it’s just part of the process.
“Both conciliation and a strike vote are common occurrences in the collective bargaining process. Negotiations remain professional and constructive. As is typical in any negotiation process, there are periods of progress and periods of more challenging discussions,” the statement read.
“Queen’s University values the important contributions of its people and remains committed to working with QUFA and the conciliator to reach a fair, renewed collective agreement through ongoing respectful dialogue.”
The vote will be held August 11-14, with another two days of conciliation between the parties involved this month.
