Queen’s faculty union says it was ‘disrespected’ by Queen’s administration

QUFA launches campaign seeking community support to avoid a strike

Image by: Herbert Wang
QUFA and Queen’s return to bargaining table.

Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA)—the labour union representing Queen’s faculty and staff—claims Queen’s administration responded to strike decision with “disrespect.”

QUFA is advocating for improved job security and wages for Queen’s adjunct professors, increased recognition for professors involved in university service, and additional administrative and technical support for professors.   

“What do QUFA members want? An end to precarity! An end to exploitation! Support, reward, and respect!” QUFA tweeted on Jan. 18. 

The university has denied 42 per cent of QUFA’s core proposals as of Dec. 1, according to QUFA’s most recent bargaining update.

In December, 82 per cent of QUFA members voted in favour of a strike after six months of negotiating a new collective agreement with Queen’s administration after the existing agreement expired in June. 

READ MORE: Queen’s faculty union votes in favour of strike mandate

“I am very happy to report that we have had an excellent show of support for our bargaining team and the priorities they are advancing on our behalf at the bargaining table,” Jordan Morelli, QUFA president, said in a press release.

QUFA will be in a lawful position to strike as of early February but considers job action “a last resort,” according to Morelli. 

QUFA’s last update said the University has proposed additional articles to the new collective agreement, including requiring members to secure external research funding and grant the university an indefinite license to use work created by members while at Queen’s.

QUFA has not agreed to these amendments, labelling them “still on the table.”

The update said the University has partially agreed to improve its recognition of equity-related work and raise the status of service work by QUFA members. The University also agreed to some of QUFA’s proposed changes to discipline processes and changes to librarian and archivist’s working conditions. 

Bargaining is ongoing, and both parties told The Journal they cannot report on negotiations until they are signed off on.

“The university administration respects the collective bargaining process and remains committed to working through it to reach a negotiated agreement,” Queen’s said in a Jan. 16 press release. 

QUFA is calling on the Queen’s community to email the Queen’s senior administrators to “negotiate a fair contract” and “avoid a strike.” More information is available on QUFA’s website.

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Queen's, QUFA, union, University

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