Cape Breton University faculty may take job action if contract rejected

Unionizedfacultyat Cape Breton University are being warned they may have to take job actionif the school's board of governors fails to ratifya proposed contract.

The Cape Breton University Faculty Association has already ratified the three-year collective agreementreached in October, but the deal has yet to go before the board of governors for approval. That is set for Dec. 9.

The union has been contacting its members andinforming them that contingency plans are being made if the board rejects the contract.

Chester Pyne, chairman of the union's strike action committee, said in an email that members are beingasked for contact information should the Sydneyuniversity freeze their email accounts if there's job action.

'Do what's best for the university'

They're also being asked to pick their preferred time of day for picket duty.

"We have to talk about all scenarios," union spokesman Andrew Reynolds said Wednesday. "But we're very hopeful that the board of governors will do what's best for the university and just move things forward."

The faculty association represents 145professors, librarians, archivists, lab instructors, nursing practice educators and research chairs. They havebeen without a contract since June 30.

The union ratified the collective agreement on Nov. 3, with 92 per cent of members voting in favour.

President suspended

However, recent actionby the board has castdoubt on whether it will accept the contract.

Earlier this month, the board put universitypresident David Wheeler on leave of absence pending the results of an independent investigation regarding what it called governance issues.

Wheeler's lawyer, Ray Larkin, said in a statement the investigation is related to recent labour negotiations at the university.

Reynolds said he couldn't comment on any possible connection between the negotiations and Wheeler's suspension.

"I would just reiterate that we would hope that the university needs to move forward," he said.

"We've negotiated in good faith to reach a collective agreement, and we think it's time that we wrapped this up and get back to work."

• University votes against staff layoffs

The university and thestudents' union declined comment.

A strike vote by the union's membership in August received 90 per centsupport.

If the board of governors rejects the collective agreement, a mediator appointed by the provincial government wouldfile a conciliation report, Reynolds said. After a two-week waiting period, the union could call a strikewith 48 hours' notice.