Professors from Quebec Back Dalhousie Faculty in the middle of Lockout

Quebec Trade Union Stands in Solidarity with Dalhousie University Faculty

Members of a Quebec trade union are showing their support for the Dalhousie University Faculty who were excluded after a contract was not reached between the Union and the institution.

The Fédération Québécoise des Professures et Professioners d’Iventité (FQPPU) is urging the university to return to the bargaining table following what they describe as an “authoritarian move” to impose the exclusion before the university’s final offer was voted on.

The Contract Dispute

The previous contract for members of the Dalhousie Faculty Association expired on June 30th, and negotiations for a new contract began in May. Talks concluded in mid-July without a collective agreement, leading to 91 percent of DFA members voting in favor of a strike.

Key issues in the dispute include wages and the reliance on Limited Term Contracts by the University. Faculty members are seeking wages that keep up with inflation and address a nine percent real wage loss over the past decade.

The DFA has highlighted that Assistant Professors at Dalhousie earn $7,000 less than the national median.

Union’s Perspective

The FQPPU asserts that the demands of the DFA for improved conditions are reasonable and essential for ensuring quality education and research. President Madeleine Pastinelli emphasized the impact on students and society as a whole.

Impact on Students

As students prepare to return to campus, the university has announced that classes taught by DFA members will be suspended. This accounts for approximately 90 percent of all classes, according to Dalhousie Student Union President Maren Mealey.

While campus facilities like housing and dining remain open, the FQPPU Dalhousie is calling for a return to negotiations to resolve the conflict.

Looking Ahead

The union warns that the lockout, seen as a tactic borrowed from the private sector, sets a concerning precedent for Canadian universities. The conflict goes beyond the campus and raises questions about the future of academic institutions under increasing pressure to adopt corporate management practices.