Acadia faculty end strike, accept new contract

By Ryan Ross

Acadia University faculty are happy with their new contract, says a faculty association spokesman.
Andrew Biro, an assistant professor at the university, spoke on behalf of the more than 300 full- and part-time faculty, librarians and instructors at Acadia in Wolfville, N.S.
It was a long and difficult process that created a lot of bonds and brought the faculty closer together, he said.
“We got a 92 per cent ratification vote.”
Classes resumed No. 8 after the faculty association walked off the job Oct. 15 in a contract dispute over salaries and benefits.
The new three-year agreement gives staff an average salary increase of 10.5 per cent over the length of the contract.
Salaries are based on a grid, which the new agreement compresses. Under the new system fewer steps mean higher wages as staff move up the grid and there is a larger increase on the bottom end, Biro said.
“We think because of that it will be easier to recruit new faculty.”
Scott Roberts, Acadia’s communications director, said the university’s senate met Nov. 7 and decided to extend classes until Dec. 7, pushing exams back three days to start Dec. 8.
It was the only thing on the senate’s agenda and the meeting lasted for about three hours, he said.
Exams will still end Dec. 18 as planned and the shorter schedule should have little effect on exams, he said
Roberts said visits to the meal hall and library show many students stayed during the strike.
“We had between half and two-thirds of student body remain on campus during the strike.”
And Biro said faculty will do their best to cover the material in the time they have left.
“I think everyone is very keen to get back to work.”`