U of L faculty and students protest on Jan. 30. (Lethbridge News Now File Photo)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

U of L faculty vote 92 per cent to strike, could start Thursday

Feb 7, 2022 | 12:08 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Educators at the University of Lethbridge are set to hit the picket lines on Thursday.

The most recent Collective Agreement for academic instructors expired 587 days ago on June 30, 2020.

The U of L Faculty Association (ULFA) and the university’s board have been unable to agree on a new contract since several outstanding key issues still at play such as pay and benefits, academic freedom, and certain departments at the school being restructured.

The ULFA argued that its professors are already underpaid compared to other similarly-sized post-secondary schools and that they deserved more due to the constant stress and change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The board, however, has reminded faculty that it has lost millions of dollars in funding from the provincial government and is not in a great financial position.

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Things reached a fever pitch towards the end of January after the board sent out a notice that explained what could happen if educators were to go on strike, which included the possibility of prolonged instructional delays resulting in “the loss of the entire Spring 2022 semester.”

Some staff and students perceived this to be a direct threat to students, promoting more than 200 people to protest.

READ MORE: Faculty & students protest “threats” levied by U of L as potential strike looms

With two days of secret ballots being cast last week, membership at the ULFA voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike with an 87 per cent participation rate.

ULFA president Dan O’Donnell says this was the first strike vote by faculty in the university’s history.

“This is an extremely strong vote of confidence in our negotiating team,” said O’Donnell. “Our members are seeking equity, parity, and above all, respect from the board. Over the last decade, our members have stepped up time and time again for our students and the university, only to see the board give us fewer and fewer resources. Our members have already given enough; they realize that it is time to stand up for the respect that they and our students deserve.”

Chief bargainer Locke Spencer adds that the issues involve working conditions and money.

“The main issues are improved benefits and support for our most vulnerable members, restoring collegial governance and respect, and reversing years of economic decline. University of Lethbridge Faculty members earn up to 17 per cent less than faculty at comparable universities.”

With the vote now complete, the ULFA must provide a 72-hour notice for a strike, meaning the protest can start Thursday morning assuming the two sides are not able to reach a deal before then.

The board and ULFA met twice last week and it looked like things were starting to turn around for the better.

“Some progress was made on February 1st in discussion of Schedule B (Economic Benefits). There was movement towards the creation of Professional Supplement funds for Sessional Lecturers, and the Board expressed a limited and conditional willingness to consider creating a joint committee to oversee benefits, as ULFA has repeatedly proposed,” reads an update from the ULFA dated Jan. 3.

Lethbridge News Now has reached out to the board for additional comments.