DFA
WINS STRIKE
There were two major issues in this round of bargaining, but they are really just two sides of the same coin. The problem is that fewer and fewer DFA Members are teaching more and more students.
The DFA sought an increase in salaries that would move its Members out of 9th place among 11 comparable Canadian universities. This was essential in order to be able to recruit new academic staff at Dal. And the DFA sought to remove the provision that has marred its Collective Agreement since 1987 and which permits the central administration to refuse to replace DFA Members who leave Dalhousie—and to do so without offering any reasons, let alone facing a peer review. Since 1987 over 90 DFA Members have gone unreplaced under this provision.
Collective bargaining began in July 2002 but the negotiating team for the Board of Governors sent very few proposals across the table, preferring to keep discussion at the level of generalities. Throughout the entire round of bargaining the Board insisted that it would never surrender its right not to replace DFA Members without explanation and without check.
After 35 sessions the DFA Executive called for a strike vote on 23 November. Just before the strike vote the Board’s negotiators sent a slightly increased salary offer directly to Members of the Bargaining Unit. The offer was not given to the DFA’s Negotiating Team. The Board’s negotiators also insisted that the Collective Agreement be modified to stipulate that teaching one full class per year equals 15% of a full-time DFA Member’s workload—thus opening the possibility of much more part-time, limited-term teaching at Dal.
DFA Members voted 72% in favor of striking. Negotiations resumed, but again the Board’s negotiators made no movement and had virtually nothing to say at the table, despite several graduated proposals for compromise made by the DFA.
The strike started on 4 March. Support was strong on the picket lines with significantly more DFA Members collecting strike pay during the fourth week than the first. A provincial mediator was appointed and presided over the final five days of bargaining, offering himself as a final-offer arbitrator in the end. The strike ended on 26 March with DFA Members receiving a significant salary increase and the Board agreeing to make a new, full-time appointment to the DFA Bargaining Unit every time a DFA Member departs Dalhousie. This was a significant achievement for the DFA; Members voted 92% to accept the final settlement.
In addition the DFA won a clause that in effect renders null the University President’s veto over a tenure decision made by a committee of the candidate’s peers.
Credit for the DFA’s success has been given to the firm leadership of DFA President Andy Wainwright, the work of the DFA’s negotiating team headed by Alan Andrews, the savvy advice of Neil Tudiver from CAUT, and the strong, informed support of Members on the picket lines.
Tom Faulkner
Past President
Dalhousie Faculty Association