University of Lethbridge faculty members go on strike
![University of Lethbridge faculty strike Members of the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association picket outside the school on Thursday.](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2022/2/10/university-of-lethbridge-faculty-strike-1-5776340-1644519700302.jpeg)
It wasn't the news faculty, students or the University of Lethbridge were hoping for, but at 11 a.m. on Thursday, faculty began legal strike action and are picketing the school after talks with the university's board of governors broke down.
"Our members have been in negotiations for over 600 days, and have seen minimal movement at the bargaining table regarding outstanding key issues such as working conditions, collegial governance, and equitable pay and benefits," read a University of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA) release.
This is the first time faculty have gone on strike in the history of the University of Lethbridge. The collective agreement expired 587 days ago. ULFA president Dan O’Donnell has said the issues involve "equity, parity and respect."
O’Donnell says the U of L was unable to provide them with proper management rights ahead of the strike.
"We found, constantly, over the years that at this university the leadership really think of themselves as bosses, they tell you what to do, they tell you when you're going to tell. It's frankly, a bad way to run a university and it's really unfortunate that they decided to take their stand here," said O’Donnell.
Nearly 500 faculty members have been without a contract since June, 30, 2020.
The biggest obstacles in contract talks are working conditions, collegial governance and equitable pay and benefits.
“We really do hope that they'll consider the position, think about the students and really, work with us to come to the settlement that most other universities can do,” said O’Donnell.
The faculty association has argued its professors are already underpaid compared to other similarly-sized post-secondary schools. The U of L board of governors, however, says it has lost millions of dollars in funding from the provincial government and is not in a great financial position.
"We share students’ concerns about the possibilities of a delayed semester, which is why we are encouraging (that) both parties work together at the bargaining table and create a deal that is fair to faculty members, a reflection of the fiscal realities in the province, but also takes into consideration the impacts of a strike on student learning," said Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education, Demetrios Nicolaides.
"I know other unions and entities have been able to find agreements with respect to collective bargaining so I’m hopeful a path forward can be created."
During the faculty strike, students will not have to attend classes, complete assignments, or engage in any faculty supported activities.
The University of Lethbridge Students’ Union says they're worried for the health of students.
"We have had to deal with online modality, going in person, going back online, so another disruption to classes is going to have a deep effect on students," said student union president Holly Kletke.
In response to the faculty strike, the U of L said in a statement:
"The university remains committed to negotiating a fair collective agreement with the association. We appreciate the anxiety and inconvenience this circumstance causes for students, and remain committed to doing our utmost to achieve resolution through a good-faith collective bargaining process as quickly as possible."
The strike will impact nearly 9,000 students at the university.
"If they can get this sorted and it goes by quickly, fantastic, honestly, the faster it's over the better, but if it takes longer for things to get ironed out, I can wait, said Angie "Nikoleychuk, a fifth year psychology student at the U of L.
The university will formally close all workplaces to faculty members at 11 a.m. on Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6932448.1718795411!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Judge grants U of T injunction to clear pro-Palestinian encampment from downtown Toronto campus
An Ontario judge has granted the University of Toronto an injunction allowing it to clear out a pro-Palestinian encampment from its downtown Toronto campus
Altercation between 'numerous' golfers on B.C. course broken up by RCMP
Authorities were called to break up an altercation involving "numerous" golfers in Burnaby, B.C., over the weekend – apparently prompted by some serious breaches in etiquette.
Senior charged in shooting of teen on rural property north of Edmonton
A Sturgeon County man has been charged after he allegedly shot a teen over the weekend.
Eastern Ontario doctor accused of killing four patients acquitted of murder charges, negligence
An eastern Ontario doctor facing four charges of first-degree murder and negligence causing death in connection with the deaths of four seniors at a Hawkesbury hospital was acquitted on all charges at the Ottawa courthouse on Tuesday.
Are fewer Canadians having children? We want to hear from you
Are you choosing not to have children? CTVNews.ca wants to hear from you.
Ontario police seize over $1M in cocaine, $300K in cash in major drug bust
Police in Cornwall, Ont. have seized approximately $1.3 million worth of cocaine and $300,000 in cash as part of a major drugs investigation.
Trump hush money sentencing delayed to September, weeks before U.S. election
Donald Trump's sentencing for his conviction on criminal charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star was delayed on Tuesday until Sept. 18, less than seven weeks before the U.S. election.
NHL free agency shows teams in U.S. states with no income tax have an advantage
It's become difficult to deny the impact of favourable tax situations for teams around the NHL.
'I would call this the silent eating disorder': What experts want you to know about ARFID
Unlike eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia nervosa, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or ARFID, isn’t concerned with body shape or size. People with ARFID are very limited in the foods they feel safe and comfortable eating