April 2008

Canadian Memorial faculty may avert strike

Faculty at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College will be able to avoid a strike if they ratify an eleventh-hour agreement.

Earlier this year, the school's faulty voted 97% in favor of a strike over workload and salary issues. More than 100 faculty members provide instruction to some 700 students at the college. The teachers have been members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) since 2006.

"This is about respect and fairness," said CUPE National Representative Denise Carter. "We have been meeting at the bargaining table for almost two years and management's negotiators are still dragging their feet. It's time for the administration to adjust its attitude."

Carter added that the faculty members did not want to strike. "They do not want to disrupt the academic year for students. But enough is enough. They need a fair contract now," she emphasized.

With workload still an outstanding issue and no discussion yet of salaries, the union requested a "no board" report, which set a legal strike or lockout deadline of 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, March 4. "We hope the college administration gets the message: we are serious about negotiating a collective agreement. Let's get back to the table and get it settled," Carter said.

At a March 3 meeting, the CMCC's bargaining committee and union representatives produced a tentative agreement that was recommended for ratification by both parties. At press time, the union had scheduled a ratification vote among its members.