Part-time faculty at Mount Saint Vincent University head to the picket lines

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

More labour unrest is ahead at another local university.

In a media release, CUPE says more than 150 part-time academic workers at Mount Saint Vincent University walked off the job at noon on Wednesday after negotiations the day prior failed to produce a new deal.

The union says outstanding issues include job security and wages.

“Like many workers in this sector — and across the province — our members at The Mount are struggling to make ends meet,” said Lauren McKenzie, CUPE 3912 President. “They are responsible for educating the next generation, for being experts in history, economics, chemistry, you name it, but they can’t even put food on the table. Is that fair?”

In a statement on the MSVU website, Isabelle Nault, Vice-President Administration at the university, says the school will remain open and campus will be operational. Classes taught by part-time faculty will be suspended, with no impact on classes taught by full-time faculty.

Related:

• ‘Last-ditch effort’ talks between universities and part-time workers’ union

A list on the university’s website shows that hundreds of classes are cancelled due to the labour action.

“We remain committed to reaching a fair agreement with CUPE Local 3912 and look forward to a return to the bargaining table soon,” Nault wrote.

The strike comes as talks continue for workers at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s universities. CUPE says a tentative deal was reached Monday with Dalhousie, while the union will be in negotiations with SMU starting Wednesday.