CBCNews: UPEI hit by faculty strike
Faculty members at the University of Prince Edward Island walked off the job Tuesday morning over salary and workload issues.
Both the university and its faculty association met for about seven hours on Monday to try and hammer out a deal, but talks eventually broke down late in the evening. A picket line was set up at 7:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
“The administration did acknowledge that the association’s attempt to reach a deal did bring the parties closer to a settlement, but stated the salaries were too far apart,” said faculty association president Wayne Peters in a press release.
“The administration tabled a salary proposal earlier today which it felt was substantial. However, it was far from that.”
Money is the biggest issue, with the faculty demanding salaries on par with professors at other universities in the region. The association, which represents about 375 university staff, also wants a reduction in teaching workloads.
Despite the strike, it will be business as usual Tuesday at the university’s sports complex, and at Campus Kids Child Care Centre. The faculty association said it won’t obstruct traffic heading into the university, but the administration is telling people to expect delays.
“When it comes to the members of the public who might be going to the CARI centre or the day care, those services are going to be up and operating as normal,” Peters said.
“I want people not…to feel intimidated about the picket line. Our intention is to get our message out to people, pass out some flyers at the entrances.”
Classes for the university’s 4,000 students have been cancelled. However, the administration is telling students they will be writing exams and the semester will end on schedule.
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