Cape Breton University reaches tentative agreement with faculty

Cape Breton University and the school's faculty association have reached a tentative contract agreement.

In a joint press release issued Thursday, both sidessaid the agreement needs to be ratified by the university's board of governors and the membership of the Cape Breton University Faculty Association.

The faculty association represents 145professors, librarians, archivists, lab instructors, nursing practice educators and research chairs.

Faculty havebeen in legal strikeposition since Jan. 23.

Contract negotiations had previously been dogged bya layoff clausethatwould allowthe university to lay offfaculty members under two conditions: a financial emergency or academic reasons, including if the university neededor wantedto shut down a program.

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

Faculty had agreed to a three-year contract reached last year, butthe university'sboard of governors voted it down in December.

Details of the new contract will be released in the coming days, said the press release.