Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union will call a strike if agreement on a new contract with the university can’t be reached in conciliation this month.

SMUFU held its strike vote in October, securing yes votes from 88 per cent of those who cast a ballot.

Faculty union president Larry Haiven says negotiations began in June with both sides hoping to reach an agreement before the current contract expired on Aug. 31. “After nine sessions, we’ve agreed on some issues, but salaries, benefits and proposals on faculty retention and retirement remain in negotiations,” he said. “Unfortunately we’re both at a point where we’re not going any further.”

Haiven said among other factors, the union put forward a reasonable proposal on salary increases.

“We proposed a 4 per cent annual salary increase and the university has offered 1.75 per cent in each of the next three years,” he said. “A 1.75 per cent salary increase is a salary cut when inflation is 3 per cent. SMU faculty salaries are already well below the Canadian median — and will fall further if the administration gets its way.”

Haiven says he’s hopeful conciliation will result in a settlement “without resort to work stoppage.”