Dalhousie locks out profs, other faculty members over contract dispute

Dalhousie University Faculty Association Members Go on Strike

Dalhousie University professors, librarians, and other staff members have taken to the picket lines after the school locked out nearly 1,000 faculty association members amid an ongoing contract dispute. This move comes just weeks before the start of the fall term at Dalhousie, the largest university in Atlantic Canada.

The lockout was initiated at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday following a warning from the university earlier in the week. As a result, all classes taught by Dalhousie Faculty Association members have been suspended. The main point of contention between the university’s board of governors and the faculty association has been pay raises. The union proposed increases of 3.75%, 4.75%, and 5.75% over three years, while the university offered 2% raises for each of the three years.

Faculty members are picketing at various locations around the Halifax campus, with plans to expand to the agricultural campus in Truro, N.S. The union has raised concerns about wage increases not keeping up with inflation over the past decade. However, the university has stated that its compensation is in line with other large Canadian universities and that it is facing financial challenges.

One of the key issues that faculty members are highlighting is the construction of an NHL-sized ice rink on campus. The union argues that this project is evidence of the university overstating its financial struggles. The university, on the other hand, maintains that the funding for the rink cannot be used for operating costs.

In response to the lockout, the faculty association has given a 48-hour strike notice. The union is currently voting on the university’s latest offer, with the results expected to be announced soon. The uncertainty surrounding the fall semester has left students and faculty in limbo, with concerns about when classes will resume.

Overall, the dispute between Dalhousie University and its faculty association highlights the ongoing challenges in higher education funding and compensation. As negotiations continue, both parties will need to find a resolution that addresses the needs of faculty members while ensuring the financial sustainability of the institution.