(Antigonish-January 28, 2013) This morning, StFX Association of University Teachers (AUT) enter legal strike action after eight months of talks with the StFX University Administration yielded no settlement.
“High quality education for students at StFX is our priority,” said Peter McInnis, president of the StFX AUT. The postponement of classes by the Academic Vice President, Mary McGillivray prevents any confusion for students about attending classes. Although the AUT regrets the impact of a labour disruption on students, by exercising their democratic right to strike, the Association hopes to avoid the erosion of the quality of education at StFX in the long-term and to ensure a fair and equitable settlement for its diverse membership.
The Association represents over 400 members in eight different employee groups engaged in teaching and research at StFX, over one third of whom are vulnerable due to precarious, limited-term contracts and limited benefits. Dispelling the argument that professors make high salaries, the AUT report that members who fall within this vulnerable group make on average $25,000 per year, receive no health benefits and are only employed on 8 month contracts. “We cannot accept the broad disparities the Administration is trying to impose on us that would compromise the academic mission of this institution by undermining job security for academic staff,” said McInnis.
The AUT’s proposal hoped to rectify this disparity by asking for reasonable salary increases, on par with other regional and national settlements for academic staff, as well as modest improvements to health benefits, pensions, and the provision of professional development funds, a standard benefit for academic staff across the country. The Association also asked for modest contract length extensions for employee groups on less than full year contracts. However, the administration’s offer to date is below recent Atlantic university settlements and well below the cost-of-living.
Even though the AUT will be on strike they still invite the administration to return to negotiations. “The Association remains committed to achieving a fair and equitable settlement at the bargaining table,” said McInnis.
Details of the AUT position and bargaining updates are available at www.stfxaut.ca; or contact the AUT Strike Headquarters located at the Antigonish Mall (735-3261).
*Correction: People who receive no benefits are part time academic instructors. These are not the same as folks with less than 12 month contracts.
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