14

The Cadre

Dal profs strike

BY KAVERI GUPTA AND SHELLEY ROBINSON

HALIFAX (CUP) Dalhousie University profes- sors hit the picket lines this week and no one knows how long they’re staying out.

Despite a 24-hour marathon of last-minute nego- tiations, faculty and adminis- tration were unable to resolves their differences and the profs walked out March 25, the first day they were legally entitled to strike. They are joined on the picket lines by Dalhousie/Es professional librarians, who are also members of the faculty association.

In the face of the strike, the university has instituted a lock-out. Professors are not

allowed to teach classes or

use any university facilities. And while all classes at the university have been cancelled, the libraries remain open, as do student services including the computer

centre, food service and the residences.

Michael Cross, chief negotiator for the faculty as- sociation, says while the strike may not be pleasant, itis prob- ably necessary to spur fruitful negotiations.

“I’m not at all sure the board [of governors] believed {a strike] was going to hap- pen,” he said. “So now that they know we’ re serious I hope they’ Il come back to the table and we can have some really serious discussions.”

The same day that mem- bers of the faculty association took to the picket lines, about 200 also took to the streets of Halifax to protest what they say are unfair contract pro- posals put forward by the uni- versity.

University spokesper- son Michelle Gallant says the strike has set back negotia- tions.

“It’s unfortunate the faculty adjourned the meet- ings to go one strike. We were making progress,” she said.

She adds that the ad- ministration is ready to go back to the table.

“We are ready to meet at any time,” she said.

The issues still on the table are increased salaries and replacement of departing fac- ulty.

Dalhousie professors say their salaries lag behind those of faculty at comparably sized institutions and are con- cerned by the fact that over the last 10 years, the university has not filled 113 vacated fac- ulty positions.

The administration’s original offer of a 9.5 per cent salary hike and no guarantee to replace departing profes- sors was rejected by a faculty membership vote.

The faculty association put forward two counter pro- posals. The first called fora 13 per cent salary increase and a guarantee that all departing faculty would be replaced. The second dropped the salary de- mand down to an increase of 11.8 per cent and asked for a guarantee that all faculty who leave through early retirement packages be replaced.

The administration re- jected both. It says it has little money to spare and can’t af- ford the requested salary in- creases and to guarantee that all vacated positions be re- placed.

The faculty association, however, says it can’t afford not to, as the reduced staff complement is hurting the qual- ity of education at the univer- sity.

Resolution of the fac- ulty replacement issue is par- ticularly pressing as 46 profes- sors will be taking early retire-

ment July 1.

Cross says the board’s latest offer, which guaran- tees to not eliminate, but not necessarily fill, the vacant positions is a step — but a smallone.

“I suppose it’s a rec- ognition that there is a prob- lem,” hesaid. “[But] itdoesn’t put any people in class- rooms,”

Gunter Muecke, an earth sciences professor, agrees,

Muecke is one of those early retirees. He says he is outon the picket line to prove a point, even though he per- sonally won’t benefit from a new settlement.

“Lam walking because I see the programs in this university being threatened by thecutback in faculty,” he said, “I am retiring 10 years

before I have to [because]... | can no longer do for the students what | want to.”

Talks were scheduled to resume March 26, willa provin- cial conciliator mediating dis- cussions.

Though no one seems sure of where talks, or the strike, will go from here, Cross says some- thing has to be done, and soon.

“There are only a couple of weeks left in the term and people are going to graduate, we have to do something fast,” he said.

Students at Dalhousie have been bracing for a strike for weeks. Earlier this month, over 700 gathered in protest outside a building where the uni- versity’s board of governors were meeting, demanding that the two sides come to an agree- ment. They also want to see a student at the negotiating table.

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