The president of the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) says they have no interest in disrupting the fall semester as the clock ticks closer to the start of school.
Dave Westwood tells us they want to be back in the classroom, labs, teaching and doing research but they are currently locked out, waiting to hear back from the Board of Governors.
“That’s what we love. That’s what we’re paid to do, and we just want to get on with it,” says Westwood.
The collective agreement between the two sides expired, June 30, with the two sides so far unable to reach an agreement.
The DFA reached out to the university Friday morning when 83 per cent of members voted down the deal, in order to resume talks for a better offer when members went on strike.
“We followed formal channels to say, lets come back to the table. Let’s get this done, right,” says Westwood. “The fall term is just around the corner. This needs to be resolved.”
Wages behind inflation
Westwood says their wages are nine per cent behind inflation and they are simply trying to catch up.
“It’s really motivated by the things we’ve heard from our junior colleagues who’ve just started at Dal and saying, ‘I really can’t afford to live her on this salary, I may have to leave and go elsewhere,'” says Westwood. “Like so many young people in Nova Scotia it’s just becoming unaffordable to live here and that’s a huge problem.”
He says part of the union’s objective is to make progress on that front, including other issues like health care and access to childcare.
Dalhousie statement
In an email to our newsroom Dalhousie says they remain sincere in their desire to each a fair and sustainable agreement.
“The university’s priority is working with the DFA to reach a resolution that restores stability on campus and minimizes further disruption for our students,” reads the statement.
Dal says they will continue to share information with the community and encourage students to arrive on campus in August and September as normal.
“An agreement could happen with very little notice and classes would begin or resume within a day or two.”
The university adds that services will remain open, such as dining halls, food services, libraries and athletic facilities.
Residences will also welcome new students and orientations will also still take place.
