As many of you no doubt recall, as a result of Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association’s (MUNFA) card-signing initiative among Per Course Instructors (PCIs) in Fall, 2005, the Labour Relations Board (LRB) ordered a secret ballot vote of all eligible PCIs. That vote was held on 30 November and 1 December 2005, and MUNFA has now obtained the results of the vote, and pursuant LRB ruling.
Given the PCI voter turnout, LRB regulations stipulated that in order for it to grant certification of the PCIs, it would require that votes in favour of unionization represent at least 50 % + 1 vote of the entire PCI membership eligible. In this case, 50 % of 318 + 1 = 160 “yes” votes. Unfortunately, only 168 of the total 318 PCIs voted, and votes in favour of certification totaled only 156; there were 12 votes against. As a result, the LRB ruled that it is “satisfied that the Applicant [MUNFA] does not have the support of the majority of the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit” and ordered that the application for certification be rejected.
