Despite MUNFA members delivering a historic strike vote on Jan. 18, the administration’s positions on crucial bargaining issues have moved only marginally in more than a year — since the beginning of collective bargaining.

Because of the administration’s unwillingness to negotiate, it appears that no more can be achieved until after our membership demonstrates its strength on the picket lines. MUNFA’s bargaining team is at the table today in an effort to reach a deal before the strike deadline, but at this point, barring any dramatic shifts at the table, it seems clear that MUNFA members will be on strike starting Monday, Jan. 30. Unless you hear otherwise from MUNFA, you should assume that you are on strike after midnight tonight. 

Members who have materials or personal effects in their offices are urged to pick these up today (Sunday).

PICKETING DETAILS

Information for St. John’s and Grenfell Campus picketers is attached, including picketer and picket captain schedules for Monday, picket location map, and information for picketers.

Grenfell Campus

Grenfell members should contact the GC Job Action Committee at: munfa.grenfell@gmail.com. The JAC is also holding a Q&A session on WebEx from 2-3 pm this afternoon for Grenfell MUNFA members. Invitations for the meeting have been emailed separately.

St. John’s Campus

We will be using the Volgistics volunteer system to distribute strike duties schedules. Picket schedules are posted for Jan. 30 – Feb. 3. To access your schedule:

1. Visit https://www.volgistics.com/vicnet/607982/
2. Click on “Need a password?”
3. Send a reset link to your MUN email account

We have done our best to match strike shifts with the preferences and needs indicated on the strike duties questionnaire, but please reach out to mswab@mun.ca directly if there are errors or conflicts. Please note that the picket schedule does not yet include information for those engaged in other strike duties and virtual strike duties. More information on that is to come.

For Monday, Jan. 30: Please report to your assigned picket captain and shift but if you are additionally available to join your early morning colleagues to help create some excitement for the first morning of the strike by all means come out.

OTHER PREPARATIONS

Members are encouraged to change any social media profile pictures to the “Students and Faculty United” graphic attached to this email.

Members are also encouraged to set up the following automatic reply (instructions on how to do so are attached):

I am a member of the Memorial University Faculty Association (MUNFA) and am on strike as of Monday January 30th, 2023. This means I will not be answering work related communications (e.g., email, phone), teaching, or attending meetings outside of union activities until we have received a fair deal at MUN.

Until a fair deal is reached, I urge you to contact the following individuals to voice your support for a fair deal at MUN so that we can end our strike:

• President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Vianne Timmons Tel: 709-864-8212 Fax: 709-864-2059 Email: president@mun.ca or vtimmons@mun.ca

• Provost and Vice-President Dr. Neil Bose 709-864-8246 Email: vpacad@mun.ca or nbose@mun.ca

• Vice-President (advancement and external relations) Lisa Browne Tel: 709-864-8012 Email: vpaer@mun.ca or browne@mun.ca

• Vice-President (Grenfell Campus) Ian Sutherland Tel: 709-639-2545 Email: isutherland@mun.ca

• Premier of Newfoundland Labrador Andrew Furey  Tel: 709-635-0132 Fax: 709-635-0133 Email: premier@gov.nl.caor andrewfurey@gov.nl.ca

• Minister of Education John Haggie Tel: 709-256-3729 Fax: 709-256-1410 Email: johnhaggie@gov.nl.ca