The Mount Saint Vincent University Faculty Association (MSVUFA) has set a strike deadline of February 10, 2024, unless a new contract is reached for nearly 160 full-time faculty, librarians, and lab instructors. The union has been working without a Collective Agreement since June of last year.

In a press release, MSVUFA president Dr. Susan Brigham said, “the collective bargaining process has been frustrating and disappointing as the Board of Governors has been dragging its feet.”

Brigham says MSVUFA is seeking a fair and equitable settlement to ensure parity with other Nova Scotian and regional universities. The union is also looking to advance decolonization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts.

“We are well aware of the implications a strike will have on students, faculty, and the [university], but if we cannot ratify a new Collective Agreement, job action is the next step, and we are getting ready,” said Brigham.

The union has secured a strong strike mandate with the support of 97% of the membership.