Cape Breton University contract talks progress; no strike Monday

Cape Breton University and its faculty association are closer to reaching atentative agreement.

A joint announcement by CBU and the Cape Breton University Faculty Association came Friday morning after a day of meetings with a provincial conciliator.

"Agreement in principle has been reached on Article 39 (the layoff clause), which has been the major point of contention leading to the threat of job action by faculty," the statement said.

• Cape Breton University professors fear layoffs as early as spring

Faculty spokesman Andrew Reynolds said the union will not file a notice of strike action for Monday.

"We are hopeful that this momentum continues into the weekend and results in a tentative agreement," he said.

No details on the talks have been released.

'Relief to students'

Faculty objected to the layoff clause which would allowthe university to lay offfaculty members under two conditions: a financial emergency or academic reasons if the university needs or wants to shut down a program.

It said the clause could affect the wider communitybecause cutting programs would limit what post-secondary education would be available in Cape Breton.

Interim CBU president DaleKeefesaid Friday the news "comes as a relief to students."

Faculty had agreed to a three-year contract reached last year, butthe university'sboard of governors voted it down in December. The board also voted torelease CBU president David Wheeler, puttingKeefein the job until a replacement is found.