THE LITTLE UNION THAT COULD...DID! The 82 members of the Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association (CUEFA) went on strike to get a better deal at work—and they got it on January 15.

It took 11 days on the picket lines for the faculty to win a contract that improves salaries and working conditions for all CUEFA members. The win makes Alberta history in two ways: not only was the stirke the first strike ever by any Alberta faculty association—it is also the first strike win by a faculty association.

Win will encourage others

Faculty associations did not have the right to strike until 2017 when the Alberta government moved faculty collective bargaining under the Labour Relations Code.

Bob Barnetson, a labour relations professor at Athabasca University, said that although Concordia was the first Alberta faculty association to vote in favour of a strike since the bill was passed, they won't likely be the last. Barnetson says other universities likely headed that way include, the University of Alberta, the University of Lethbridge and Mount Royal University.

Barnetson himself is involved in the collective bargaining process at his own workplace.

Faculty third lowest paid in Canada

CUE faculty salaries before the strike left them ranked 68th out of 70 Canadian universities.

The union dismissed the university claims that it did not have the money needed to meet the pay raises the union proposed. As proof, the union pointed to the fact the university recently spent $1.75 million to buy the Magrath Mansion, “a building without a clear role in the university’s core operations”, rather than investing in competitive wages and staff recruitment.

Salary gains in the contract will begin the process of bringing CUE faculty and academic service officers into line with other post secondary institutions.

The new agreement also improves working conditions for CUEFA members by moving towards manageable workloads for professors, laboratory instructors, librarians, and field placement coordinators.

The agreement also restores job security to members and preserves their ownership of their intellectual property.

1350 messages of support

“Collective action is what made our win possible, and CUEFA is grateful to the students, parents, other associations and allies across Canada who joined our picket lines and rallied in support of this strike,” said CUEFA President, Glynis Price.

Over 1350 individuals and organizations from across Canada sent messages to the university administration to “put the interests of students and staff before profit.” More than 500 people signed a student-run petition supporting the faculty.

“We are proud that the placards on the picket line read ‘We are all CUE’ because each and every one of us is part of the community, and we will keep working hard so that our sessional colleagues and non-academic staff also realize better working conditions.

Eighty-nine percent of the union membership (73 of 82) voted in favour of accepting the negotiated agreement. “This new agreement is a win for faculty, students and the community because it will enable the university to recruit and retain excellent faculty and lays the foundation for a stronger learning environment,” said CUEFA President, Glynis Price.

The CUEFA says this collective agreement allows for a bright future. “Our vision for the future is a respectful and accountable workplace, a vibrant centre of learning,” said Price.

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