UPEI faculty wants negotiations rescheduled until complaint heard

The UPEI faculty association wants its complaint to the Labour Relations Board addressed before contract negotiations resume.

A conciliator scheduled June 13 and 14 for negotiations between the university and its faculty association to resume. But the faculty association wants the dates rescheduled to allow the labour board complaints to be heard.

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The current collective agreement expires June 30. The two sides began bargaining for a new contract in February.

In April, the faculty association filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the P.E.I. Labour Relations Board. The association alleges the UPEI Board of Governors was engaging in bad faith bargaining.

Labour disruption is of no benefit whatsoever to the university or, most importantly, to our students.- Statement from UPEI administration

"The association requested time to submit arguments affirming our position that the Labour Board complaints must be addressed before conciliation can proceed," said faculty association president Nola Etkin.

"We are awaiting the decision of the conciliator on whether conciliation will be rescheduled to allow the Labour Board complaints to be heard."

UPEI welcomes negotiations

UPEI administration, meanwhile, issued a statement Friday saying it welcomes the return to negotiations next week as set by the conciliator.

"Labour disruption is of no benefit whatsoever to the university or, most importantly, to our students," the statement said.

"The university has about 1,000 summer students including students in programs that run through the summer like nursing, education, and veterinary medicine. The very last thing we want to do is cause our students any stress by interrupting their studies. In addition, we do not want to risk our efforts regarding recruitment and retention."

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