As fall teaching winds down and the examination period approaches, we know that faculty members, staff and students are eager for information about the state of the collective bargaining process.
As we reported to MUNFA members in our November 14 update, the next step following the impasse in bargaining was for the Conciliator to file a report with the Minister for Advanced Education, Skills and Labour. Fifteen days later, assuming the Minister did not appoint a conciliation board or mediator, the union would be empowered to authorise a strike vote and, likewise, the employer would be permitted to initiate a lockout.
To prevent disruption at this crucial point in the academic term, on November 15, the MUNFA Executive Committee proposed to the University administration that we sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing to no job action or lockout this semester. Coincidentally, later the same day, we received notice that the Minister had received the conciliator’s report and that the fifteen-day “cooling off” period would end on December 1, 2018.
Given that we wanted to give the administration sufficient time to consider our proposed MoU, we have not shared the proposal more widely until now. While the administration has not yet formally responded to the proposal, we have been advised – and are encouraged to learn – that they will do so by the end of this week. MUNFA will send further information when we have it.
In the meantime, as we said in our last update, MUNFA representatives want to speak directly to every MUNFA member so that we can discuss the situation and address any questions or concerns.
If you would like to schedule a meeting with MUNFA representatives please contact Travis Perry, Membership Engagement & Communications Coordinator, at membership.munfa@mun.ca.
