What is expected of me during a strike? [1]
Will I get paid in the event of a strike? [2]
What are strike duties? [3]
How can I participate in the strike if I am not in St. John’s or Corner Brook? [4]
What will happen to members who are on maternity or parental leave? [5]
What will happen to members on LTD? [6]
What will happen to members on sabbatical? [7]
What if I am away on approved vacation during the strike? [8]
Will I receive health benefits during a strike? [9]
What about pension? [10]
What happens if I face financial hardships during the strike? [11]
I use the MUN Childcare Centre. Will I still be able to take my children there during a strike? [12]
Will I still have access to my MUN email if we go on strike? [13]
I have responsibilities on campus such as lab experiments at a crucial phase, animals and plants that must be cared for, or special research equipment that requires maintenance (and which cannot be attended to by research team members who are not part of MUNFA). What should I do? [14]
What about research grant deadlines? [15]
Where is strike headquarters? [16]
What is MUNFA’s masking policy during a strike? [17]
Where will I be picketing? [18]
Where will I park? [19]
What if I’m sick or have a family emergency when I’m scheduled for strike duties? [20]
How will I receive strike pay? [21]
Should I assign work to students during a strike? [22]
Should I advise students during a strike? [23]
Can I hold workshops/rehearsals/office hours from home or another location during the strike? [24]
I teach online. Do I need to remove all my course material from Brightspace? [25]
Will my grad students continue to be paid? [26]
What about clinical work? [27]
Do I need to withdraw my service from bodies like research ethics boards, Senate, or any other department or faculty committees in the event of a strike? [28]
What about Tri-Agency committees, peer reviewing, letters of recommendation, and so forth? [29]
How will MUNFA know if I’m doing these things anyway? [30]
Can I use campus facilities, like the gym? [31]
What about other events and activities on campus? [32]
For information about the strike vote, click here [33].
For information about this round of bargaining, click here. [34]
For information for students, click here. [35]
What is expected of me during a strike?
During a strike, MUNFA members will withdraw their labour from Memorial University. Labour includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Teaching, supervising, and advising students
- Service to the university
- Research
- Library work
- Counselling work
- Work associated with co-operative education and field education
It is key to withdraw our labour from Memorial University in order to motivate the employer to bargain and offer a fair deal.
Members will also participate in strike duties, such as participating in pickets, volunteering at strike headquarters, or working virtually on communications and virtual events.
Will I get paid in the event of a strike?
Yes. All dues-paying MUNFA members who participate in duties assigned by the Job Action Committee are entitled to strike pay, in lieu of their regular remuneration. Thanks to MUNFA’s Strike Fund and to the CAUT Defence Fund benefit, members will be paid $150.00 per day, 7 days a week (non-taxable). In order to receive the full amount of strike pay, members will be required to perform strike duties from Monday-Friday.
What are strike duties?
For most members, strike duties will be on the picket lines. If you are not in St. John’s or Corner Brook, or if you require non-picketing strike duties, other duties will be assigned to you by the Job Action Committee. Other strike duties include tasks such as working in strike headquarters, driving, planning in-person and virtual rallies and social events, communications work, and sign-making. A Strike Duties Questionnaire has been distributed to members. You are not required to disclose personal medical information in the Strike Duties Questionnaire.
How can I participate in the strike if I am not in St. John’s or Corner Brook?
If you are a member of MUNFA, you should withdraw your work from MUN. There are strike duties available for members who are working remotely.
What will happen to members who are on maternity or parental leave?
MUNFA and the administration have agreed that these members will continue to be on leave and will not experience any reduction in pay.
What will happen to members on LTD?
Members on LTD are paid through the insurer, not through MUN. MUNFA members on LTD will not be considered to be on strike, or expected to participate in strike duties, and will not experience any change or disruption to LTD payments.
What will happen to members on sabbatical?
MUNFA’s position has been that members on sabbatical leave should continue to be on leave, and should not experience any reduction in pay. In order to settle on a Strike Protocol that would ensure members continue to receive health benefits during any job action, MUNFA reluctantly agreed to the administration’s demand that sabbaticants would be considered on strike. Sabbaticants will be eligible for strike pay upon completion of the same amount of strike work as other members (2.5-hour shifts Monday-Friday). There is remote work available for members who are unable to participate in the strike in person.
What if I am away on approved vacation during the strike?
Unlike maternity leave, parental leave, and LTD, you will not be paid your regular salary if you take vacation while on strike. You will receive strike pay, but you will still be expected to perform strike duties. Given the strike deadline is set for January 30, 2023 at 12:01am, MUNFA requests that members consider this date when booking vacation.
Will I receive health benefits during a strike?
Yes. The administration has agreed that MUNFA members will retain access to all normal health and dental benefits during the strike. To maintain the non-taxable status of the Long Term Disability plan, the administration and MUNFA have agreed that applicable premiums shall be deducted from the ASM’s pay in a single lump sum following their return to work. MUNFA will be covering both the employer and employee portions of other health benefits.
What about pension?
In most faculty association strikes in Canada, pension contributions have been suspended for the duration of the strike. MUNFA’s position is that members who wish to ensure their pension remains fully funded should be able to make payments normally made during the strike upon return to work. MUNFA has indicated to the administration that it would like to discuss pensions during the back-to-work protocol.
What happens if I face financial hardships during the strike?
In addition to strike pay, MUNFA has a hardship fund for members who experience financial hardship that is caused or exacerbated by the strike. Contact the MUNFA Job Action Committee at picket4munfa@gmail.com [36] to inquire.
MUNFA can also supply a letter that members can take to their banks and negotiate an interest-free loan or mortgage payment deferrals. Please email picket4munfa@gmail.com [36] with banking contact information to request a letter.
I use the MUN Childcare Centre. Will I still be able to take my children there during a strike?
Yes. The administration has agreed that access to the Childcare Centre will be maintained in the event of a strike. MUNFA will not impede access to the Childcare Centre.
Will I still have access to my MUN email if we go on strike?
Yes. The administration has agreed that MUNFA members will continue to have email access.
I have responsibilities on campus such as lab experiments at a crucial phase, animals and plants that must be cared for, or special research equipment that requires maintenance (and which cannot be attended to by research team members who are not part of MUNFA). What should I do?
As per Appendix I of the Collective Agreement: “During strikes or lockouts involving the University, the University will allow controlled access by Academic Staff Members to those of their research projects which would be irreparably harmed should such access be denied.”
MUNFA and the administration have discussed this issue; they are in agreement that “irreparable harm” sets a high bar. As announced on Newsline, MUN administration has established a process for campus access to prevent irreparable harm.
What about research grant deadlines?
The administration has agreed that it will extend deadlines for internal grant applications occurring during the period of a strike/lockout to a publicized date beyond the end of any strike/lockout action. The administration has also agreed that it will extend the deadline for internal review of external grant applications. Finally, the administration has agreed that it will work with faculty seeking extensions to deadlines for external grant applications from granting agencies should the deadline fall within a period of strike/lockout.
Where is strike headquarters?
Strike headquarters is located at 95 Bonaventure Ave., Unit #300 on the third floor. An elevator is available.
What is MUNFA’s masking policy during a strike?
Masks are required inside strike headquarters and on all shuttles, with the exception of designated eating areas and individual offices.
Where will I be picketing?
Picket locations and schedules are being developed. Please complete the Strike Duties Questionnaire [37] if you have not already done so.
Where will I park?
Parking has been secured at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church Parking Indigo. Further details will be forthcoming. Members are encouraged to carpool, take public transit, cycle, or walk to the picket lines, as possible.
What if I’m sick or have a family emergency when I’m scheduled for strike duties?
MUNFA understands that these issues arise. Please contact strike headquarters if something comes up that prevents you from participating in strike duties. Contact information will be forthcoming.
How will I receive strike pay?
Strike pay will be through direct deposit. Members will be asked to provide direct deposit information to MUNFA. Further information will be forthcoming.
Should I assign work to students during the strike?
No. All teaching activities including instruction, assessment, and course development should stop for the duration of the strike or lockout.
Should I advise students during a strike?
No. Advising students is part of your regular work and should cease for the duration of a strike or lockout.
Can I hold workshops/rehearsals/office hours from home or another location during the strike?
No. Holding workshops/rehearsals/office hours from home is part of your regular work and should cease for the duration of a strike or lockout.
I teach online. Do I need to remove all of my content from Brightspace?
You do not need to remove course content from Brightspace. You may wish to consider adjusting your course so that upcoming content is not released automatically. You should also not upload any new content during the strike, just as you would not deliver upcoming lectures or assessments for classes held on campus.
Will my grad students continue to be paid?
MUN administration has indicated that grad students and post-doctoral fellows will continue to be paid up to the normal end of their contracts.
What about clinical work?
Clinical work with patients remunerated by Eastern Health or the Regional Health Authorities may continue during the strike. MUNFA members should cease clinical work that involves student instruction and supervision.
Do I need to withdraw my service from bodies like research ethics boards, Senate, or any other department or faculty committees in the event of a strike?
Yes, you should withdraw your service work during the strike.
What about Tri-Agency committees, peer reviewing, letters of recommendation, and so forth?
MUNFA requests that members consider how withholding their labour in these areas could put outside pressure on MUN administration to bargain. Consider advising those who make requests that you are on strike, and, as a result, you will not be able to participate in meetings, reviews or assessments or meet any deadline that falls within a period of work stoppage. A suggested out-of-office reply email template will be forthcoming.
How will MUNFA know if I’m doing these things anyway?
It won’t. This is between you and your conscience.
Can I use campus facilities, like the gym?
In the event of a strike, the relationship between employee and employer is severed. Given that the employer partially pays for Works memberships, access may be restricted.
What about other events and activities on campus?
MUNFA members are encouraged to avoid crossing physical picket line, wherever possible.