STU contract goes to arbitration

By Ryan Ross

The way strike negotiations were going, it would take a couple of months to complete them without an arbitrator, says a representative for the St. Thomas University Faculty Association.
Dawn Morgan, an English professor at the Fredericton university, spoke on behalf of the faculty who returned to work Feb. 4.
The union negotiated a back-to-work deal and only outstanding issues will go to arbitration, she said.
“We did think it was important to end the job action to save the term.”
The faculty association’s contract expired June 30, 2007 and a lockout went into effect Dec. 27.
Both sides have since agreed to binding arbitration and classes resumed Feb. 5.
Students will only lose six days of the semester and the exam schedule has been shortened to make up for time lost to the strike.
Morgan said the university wanted to take away a limit on class sizes. The two sides agreed to keep the maximum number of students per class at 60.
“We’re happy about that.”
Wages on the lower end of the pay scale were also an important issue. Some newer professors made more money on strike than they did at work, Morgan said.
“We couldn’t give up the principle of it.”
But Melissa Dickinson, a first-year student who stayed home during the strike, said if the faculty get what they want tuition will go up.
“I think what their striking for is a little absurd.”
Both sides were doing more arguing than negotiating and Dickinson said both sides were to blame.
“They’re using us as hostages.”
The exam schedule has been pushed back and compressed with only a two-day study break between the end of classes and exams, she said.
Dickinson is nervous about the workload under the new timeline for the semester.
“I’m a little nervous the teachers will be a little bitter.”
Morgan said the professors want a say in the conditions that lead to excellence at the university and she doesn’t think the strike will affect the respect between students and professors.
“Excellence depends on a climate of respect.”
But Dickinson said the strike gave the school a bad reputation.
“People aren’t going to come to the school.”
And as the strike dragged on, she said she considered going to a different school next year.
“If tuition goes up as much as they say it will, that’s when I’ll start looking.”