Unionized faculty members at The University of Western Ontario have voted in support of strike action.
Final totals showed 87 per cent of UWOFA’s voting full- and part-time members favoured authorizing their union to call a strike. UWOFA has been without a contract since June 30.
“I think the overwhelming vote demonstrates our membership’s determination to support our negotiating team and its pursuit of our bargaining goals,” says James Compton, UWOFA president. “It’s also a rejection of a series of proposals put forward by the administration that aims to centralize control over the academic life of faculty members.”
Compton was not surprised by the voter turnout, 57 per cent of eligible faculty, stating it is a standard turnout for Canadian universities. In fact, Compton points to the fact the turnout exceeded the participation rate of voters in the last federal and provincial elections, and any municipal election in recent memory.
“I’m hopeful that the membership’s strong endorsement will translate into progress at the table,” he adds.
Conciliation to help advance negotiations began in September. Negotiations were scheduled on Oct. 5 and further meetings with the conciliator are set for Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 12 and 13. UWOFA members will not be in a legal strike position until a no-board report has been requested and 17 days have passed after its authorization by the Ontario Minister of Labour.
“We were not surprised by the results of the vote and we remain optimistic that a negotiated settlement can be achieved,” says Helen Connell, associate vice-president of communications and public affairs at Western. “Western’s administration appreciates the importance of tenure and the academic freedom to teach and pursue research and knowledge of a faculty member’s choosing.”
A strike vote was also held this week for The University of Western Ontario Staff Association (UWOSA). The vote continued past the Western News deadline, so results will be posted on the Daily News Service, uwo.ca, as soon as tallies are in today (Oct. 7).
UWOSA, which represents nearly 1,000 staff working in faculties and administrative units across campus, has been involved in four months of contract negotiations with the university. The current contract agreement expired June 30.
Although there has been progress in the contract negotiations, the union cites many monetary and job security proposals among the many outstanding issues. In mid-August, UWOSA asked the Ontario Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator to assist the two parties in reaching an agreement. Meetings with the conciliator are scheduled for this month.
For up-to-date contract negotiations information, click Contract Negotiations @ Western off the Western homepage, uwo.ca, or log directly onto communications.uwo.ca/contract_negotiations.