September 29, 2000
Conciliation talks between Memorial University and the union representing its 750 faculty and librarians resumed Friday morning. Talks have been stalled for several weeks while the university prepared a salary proposal. That proposal was finally given to the union on Friday morning.
Dr. Noel Roy, President of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA), said that the union’s negotiating team is studying the proposal over the weekend. “The proposal is a complicated one and all aspects need to be checked against our own information before we can prepare a response.”
Dr. Roy went on to say that while some of the features of the university proposal appear attractive, the union is concerned that some of its members, especially librarians and sessional instructors, would be seriously disadvantaged. “MUNFA is also disappointed that the university proposal contains no early retirement incentive and no commitment by the university to reform of the pension plan. The proposal lacks vision, because it actually delays faculty renewal.”
In the meantime, the university and MUNFA negotiating teams have agreed to resume talks on Monday afternoon. MUNFA will be in a position to conduct a strike vote on October 5.
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CONTACT: Dr. Noel Roy
President, MUNFA
Tel: (709)737-8642 or 737-8245
Fax: (709)737-3703
