Atlantic Canada’s largest university, Dalhousie University in Halifax, has implemented a lockout affecting around 1,000 faculty members less than two weeks prior to the arrival of students for the fall semester. The lockout, which commenced at 9:30 a.m. on a Wednesday, was enacted in response to a contract dispute with the university's faculty association. Following the university's announcement, picket lines swiftly emerged at various campus locations in downtown Halifax.
Fiona Martin, an associate professor and captain of the faculty association's picket line, indicated that the lockout followed a 48-hour notice issued by the university on Monday. Despite being aware that a lockout was forthcoming, she described the situation as shocking, especially for many faculty members who are experiencing picketing for the first time. "Our spirits are high, but we’re all surprised by the administration’s actions," Martin remarked.
The faculty association has identified key disputes in the negotiations, particularly regarding salary adjustments that align with inflation rates and compensation for a nearly ten percent decline in real wages over the last decade. The previous contract expired on June 30, and a significant number of association members (85.5 percent) had participated in a strike vote, with an overwhelming majority (91.2 percent) supporting potential strike action if necessary.
Conciliation talks concluded without reaching an agreement last month, and the lockout occurred while faculty members were voting on the university's most recent contract proposal. In response to the situation, Dalhousie University expressed that its capacity to raise faculty salaries is constrained, stating that the decision to implement the lockout was not taken lightly. The administration had previously offered faculty a salary increase of two percent annually over three years. The university emphasized that their final proposal aimed to enhance support for faculty while safeguarding essential academic operations and preventing further significant layoffs in the coming years.
As a result of this labor dispute, classes led by faculty association members have been suspended until the situation is resolved.
5 Comments
Matzomaster
Students are caught in the middle of this nonsense. We need our professors in the classroom, not on picket lines!
Karamba
The board needs to defend the institution’s financial health. Faculty can negotiate, but the bottom line matters too.
Rotfront
How can the university expect quality education when they refuse to support their faculty adequately? This is a disgrace!
Fuerza
It’s ridiculous that they’d rather lockout faculty than negotiate fairly. What happened to collaboration?
Manolo Noriega
If salaries are adjusted too much, it will lead to layoffs down the line. The administration is thinking ahead.