For Immediate Release
April 20, 2014

Mount Allison Faculty Association passes resolution of support for students seeking strike reparations from the administration

At its recent Annual General Meeting members of the Mount Allison Faculty Association (MAFA) voted unanimously in favour of a motion in support of the Mount Allison students seeking reparations from the administration in response to the faculty and librarian strike this past term.

“The strike revealed something about the institution which shocked all of us who believed in Mount Allison as a community dedicated to the intellectual and social well being of its members,” says MAFA President Loralea Michaelis. “The administration has been unwilling to deal with this and has tried to press ahead as if everything is business as usual,” she added.

Mount Allison’s faculty and librarians went on strike for three weeks in late January through mid-February of this year. “The strike ended and the term was salvaged but there is still so much that is unresolved at Mount Allison,” Michaelis said. “This motion supports those students who are trying to start a conversation about what happened this year, and what it means for the future of the institution.”

It has been estimated that the administration saved over $800,000 in unpaid salaries during the faculty strike. Mount Allison University’s operating budget is funded 40% by student tuition, 40% by the New Brunswick government, and 20% by endowment income and other revenue sources.

“Our members have diverse views on the matter of a tuition refund. Many are concerned that it feeds into the idea of the student as consumer. But we are unanimous in thinking that the relationship between students and the university has been damaged as a result of the strike and that this damage needs to be recognized and repaired.”

Reparations can take many forms but a discussion about institutional decision making and responsibility would be a place to start, she said.

MAFA represents 200 full-time and part-time faculty and librarians.

The full motion reads as follows: “The MAFA membership expresses its admiration and respect for the student activism and the student activists who are standing up for fair reparations in response to the strike of 2014.”

For Immediate Release

April 20, 2014

Mount Allison Faculty Association passes resolution of support for students seeking strike reparations from the administration

At its recent Annual General Meeting members of the Mount Allison Faculty Association (MAFA) voted unanimously in favour of a motion in support of the Mount Allison students seeking reparations from the administration in response to the faculty and librarian strike this past term.

“The strike revealed something about the institution which shocked all of us who believed in Mount Allison as a community dedicated to the intellectual and social well being of its members,” says MAFA President Loralea Michaelis. “The administration has been unwilling to deal with this and has tried to press ahead as if everything is business as usual,” she added.

Mount Allison’s faculty and librarians went on strike for three weeks in late January through mid-February of this year. “The strike ended and the term was salvaged but there is still so much that is unresolved at Mount Allison,” Michaelis said. “This motion supports those students who are trying to start a conversation about what happened this year, and what it means for the future of the institution.”

It has been estimated that the administration saved over $800,000 in unpaid salaries during the faculty strike. Mount Allison University’s operating budget is funded 40% by student tuition, 40% by the New Brunswick government, and 20% by endowment income and other revenue sources.

“Our members have diverse views on the matter of a tuition refund. Many are concerned that it feeds into the idea of the student as consumer. But we are unanimous in thinking that the relationship between students and the university has been damaged as a result of the strike and that this damage needs to be recognized and repaired.”

Reparations can take many forms but a discussion about institutional decision making and responsibility would be a place to start, she said.

MAFA represents 200 full-time and part-time faculty and librarians.

The full motion reads as follows: “The MAFA membership expresses its admiration and respect for the student activism and the student activists who are standing up for fair reparations in response to the strike of 2014.”

– 30 –

For more information, contact Loralea Michaelis at (506) 364-2289, or [email protected]

For Immediate Release

April 4, 2014

On April 3, 2014, members of the Mount Allison Faculty Council passed a motion of non-confidence in the President and Provost of Mount Allison University by a resounding majority of 60 to 1.  The motion cited a lack of transparency, a disregard for collegiality and academic principles, and a lack of respect for faculty and librarians.  The motion also made specific reference to a failure to provide support to the academic mission of the university by not providing adequate replacements for leaves and departures.

In its public statements on the Faculty Council non-confidence vote the administration of Mount Allison University has claimed that the motion was “inappropriate” because it touches on matters arising in the dispute over the terms of our new collective agreements, a dispute that will be settled in the upcoming binding arbitration.

The Mount Allison Faculty Association (MAFA) wishes to correct this false claim.  MAFA is a certified union responsible for negotiating the terms and conditions of work for its full-time and part-time members.  Our  proposals on sabbatical replacements and full time faculty and librarian complement address the workload problems that our members face at this institution.

Faculty Council is a collegial body responsible for advising the President, Senate, and the Board of Regents on any matters of policy and procedures that are within their competence.  It is well within its mandate to raise concerns about the impact that the failure to provide adequate replacements for leaves and departures will have on academic programs and academic standards at Mount Allison, and to question whether decisions about replacements for leaves and departures are being made in a way that satisfies the requirements of transparency and collegiality.

The issues and concerns raised in the non-confidence motion have been under discussion for many years in the various collegial bodies of the university, within academic Departments and Senate Committees and at meetings of Faculty Council and Senate.  Faculty and librarians have the right as well as the obligation to participate in these discussions, regardless of the status of collective bargaining.

The binding arbitration process to which MAFA and the administration have agreed in no way constrains the normal operation of collegial processes; neither does it prohibit faculty and librarians from using these collegial processes to raise matters bearing on academic program integrity and academic standards, and to cite these matters in non-confidence motions.

MAFA encourages the administration to consider more carefully the information that it provides to the community, and to be active and respectful members of the collegial governance processes that are the hallmark of any university.

For Immediate Release, April 4, 2014

Statement of MAFA President Loralea Michaelis on the false claims of the administration regarding the Faculty Council motion of non-confidence

On April 3, 2014, members of the Mount Allison Faculty Council passed a motion of non-confidence in the President and Provost of Mount Allison University by a resounding majority of 60 to 1. The motion cited a lack of transparency, a disregard for collegiality and academic principles, and a lack of respect for faculty and librarians. The motion also made specific reference to a failure to provide support to the academic mission of the university by not providing adequate replacements for leaves and departures.

In its public statements on the non-confidence vote at Faculty Council the administration of Mount Allison University has claimed that the motion was “inappropriate” because it touches on matters arising in the dispute over the terms of our new collective agreements, a dispute that will be settled in the upcoming binding arbitration.

The Mount Allison Faculty Association (MAFA) wishes to correct this false claim. MAFA is a certified union responsible for negotiating the terms and conditions of work for its full-time and part-time members. Our proposals on issues like sabbatical replacements and full time faculty complement address the workload problem that our members face at this institution.

Faculty Council is a collegial body responsible for advising the President, Senate, and the Board of Regents on any matters of policy and procedures that are within their competence. It is well within its mandate to raise concerns about the impact that the failure to provide adequate replacements for leaves and departures will have on academic programs and academic standards at Mount Allison, and to question whether decisions about replacements for leaves and departures are being made in a way that satisfies the requirements of transparency and collegiality.

The issues and concerns raised in the non-confidence motion have been under discussion for many years in the various collegial bodies of the university, within academic Departments and Senate Committees and at meetings of Faculty Council and Senate. Faculty and librarians have the right as well as the obligation to participate in these discussions, regardless of the status of collective bargaining.

The binding arbitration process to which MAFA and the administration have agreed in no way constrains the normal operation of collegial processes; neither does it prohibit faculty and librarians from using these collegial processes to raise matters bearing on academic program integrity and academic standards, and to cite these matters in non-confidence motions.

MAFA encourages the administration to consider more carefully the information that it provides to the community, and to be active and respectful members of the collegial governance processes that are the hallmark of any university.

For more information, contact Loralea Michaelis at 506-364-2289, [email protected].

After 14 hours of negotiating, MAFA and the administration have reached agreements on the back to work protocol and the scope of binding arbitration. The strike is concluded, effective immediately.

Faculty and librarians return to work on Monday.

Faculty and librarians at Mount Allison will be returning to work on Monday, February 17, following a three week strike which has ended with both parties agreeing to submit their differences to binding arbitration. Feelings are mixed.

“Members are happy to be returning to the classroom. We will be doing everything that we can to make sure that our students get the education that they came here for,” Mount Allison Faculty Association (MAFA) President Loralea Michaelis said.

MAFA and the administration met over the weekend to reach an agreement on the scope of the arbitration as well as the terms of a back to work protocol. The strike ended early Sunday morning.

“Ideally we would be returning to work with a tentative collective agreement and a negotiated resolution of the differences that gave rise to the strike. We proposed binding arbitration only after it became clear that this would not be possible. It is in the best interests of our students and the university to end the strike and take our differences to arbitration,” says Michaelis.

Outstanding issues to be resolved at arbitration include workload, compensation, and the question of how much control administrators should have over teaching and research.

“Even though free collective bargaining has come to an end we will be working hard over the next few months preparing for the arbitration hearing, to ensure that the academic mission of the university has the protection that it needs,” she said.

“We have a much stronger association as a result of this process. We have discovered what we have in common, a dedication to free and open discussion, and a generosity of service that has been truly outstanding.”

“Besides moving our members’ interests forward in the arbitration process, our goal now will be to come together to restore the academic community at Mount Allison.”

Dear students and parents,

Last night MAFA sent out a press release announcing that we were proposing binding arbitration to settle the strike, and a return to classes on Monday as part of this proposed settlement.

The administration has distorted this message, claiming that MAFA has accepted the administration’s February 7 proposal for binding arbitration and that the strike is over.

This is completely false. We have not yet concluded any agreement with the Employer concerning the scope of binding arbitration and the terms under which the strike can be concluded. Without these agreements, there can be no end to the strike.

There are different kinds of binding arbitration. The administration has proposed “final offer selection,” a form of binding arbitration in which each party presents a complete package of proposals and the arbitrator chooses between the two. It is a high risk, ”winner take all” form of arbitration. MAFA is proposing “interest” arbitration instead, which is much narrower in scope and works through each unresolved issue on its own. Interest arbitration allows for a more balanced settlement, which is more favorable to reestablishing working relations following a labour dispute.

We are dismayed and disheartened by the confusion that the administration’s actions have created among students and parents. If it is a simple matter of confusion or miscommunication, we are amazed that the administration would make public announcements about our position without first confirming with us or without contacting the provincial mediator for clarification. The university community is not well served by such tactics.

We remain hopeful that the administration’s eagerness to report an end to the strike is a measure of their willingness to negotiate the terms of binding arbitration and a return to work protocol with us. Meetings with the administration are now being arranged for that purpose. In the meantime, the strike continues.

Please do not lose heart as a result of these events. We are doing our best to find our way through a very challenging situation. Your continuing support for serious and productive negotiations will be essential to a resolution.

Mount Allison Faculty Association

The MtA university community was recently sent a communication from the administration declaring an end to the strike, claiming that MAFA had accepted its proposal for binding arbitration, and announcing the resumption of classes on Monday.

This is completely untrue. We have not yet concluded any agreement with the administration on our proposal for binding arbitration, the terms of which are very different from the proposal which the administration made last week. The administration cannot declare an end to the strike until these and other related matters have been resolved.

In the meantime, MAFA remains on strike.

Sackville, NB – The Mount Allison Faculty Association is proposing voluntary binding arbitration to resolve its dispute with the administration of Mount Allison University. This proposal would see students returning to class as early as Monday.

“We understand that despite our best efforts the collective bargaining process has been exhausted,” said MAFA President Loralea Michaelis.

Earlier this week the New Brunswick government had appointed a special mediator, Mr. Larry Steinberg, to assist the two parties in reaching an agreement. Following two days of intensive negotiations MAFA was unable to reach a tentative settlement with the administration.

“Although we did not get a deal, mediation was not a wasted effort. Many issues were clarified as a result of the process. We now have a solution to get back to work,” Michaelis said. “We look forward to a positive response from the administration to our proposal.”

“Members are keen to get back into the classroom. Our students have been a source of great inspiration to us over the last few weeks and we are looking forward to seeing them all again,” she added.

Full and part time faculty and librarians have been on strike since January 27, 2014. The main issues have been workload, adequate resources for the core mission of the university, academic control of teaching and research, and compensation.

“MAFA remains committed to the principle of free collective bargaining but this round of negotiations has proven to be one of the most challenging in our history. Differences in bargaining positions are to be expected but our members have been shocked by the way in which the administration has handled this labour dispute. We will be having serious conversations about administrative accountability and decision making,” Michaelis said.

MAFA represents 154 full-time and 56 part-time faculty and librarians. They have been working without a contract since July 1, 2013.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Province directs parties in Mount Allison University labour dispute back to bargaining table with the appointment of special mediator
NB

Feb. 10, 2014

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government is intervening and directing both sides in the labour dispute at Mount Allison University to resume collective bargaining with the help of a special mediator.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Jody Carr made the announcement today.

Larry Steinberg, a mediator, arbitrator and a leading Canadian labour lawyer, will meet with the Mount Allison University administration and the Mount Allison Faculty Association on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, Feb. 13.

“This special appointment directs both parties to return to the bargaining table and highlights a new level of urgency to the process,” said Carr. “As a government, our priority is, and will continue to be, to see students finish their term with the least amount of disruption possible, while continuing to respect the collective bargaining process.”

Steinberg’s appointment is being made in accordance with the Industrial Relations Act and will follow standard procedures. There will be a media blackout.

His role will be to confer with the parties and endeavour to effect a collective agreement. As special mediator he has the power to summon witnesses, require them to give evidence under oath and produce documents for a full investigation into matters. He can also enforce the attendance of witnesses and compel them to give evidence as is vested in any court of record in civil cases. No person shall refuse to answer an interrogation or obstruct the work of the mediator.

Steinberg, a mediator and arbitrator based in Toronto, is part-time vice-chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board and a member of the Ontario Labour-Management Arbitrators’ Association. He spent his career representing unions and employees in all aspects of employment, labour, administrative and human rights law before all levels of court and tribunals.

Since last August, the administration and the union have been negotiating a new collective agreement. The provincial government has provided both parties with tools under the Industrial Relations Act – including a conciliation officer and a mediation officer – to reach this goal.
However, an agreement has not been reached, and the union exercised its right to strike beginning on Jan. 27. Last week the parties met with the government- appointed mediation officer, however, they were unable to reach a resolution.

“I understand that students and parents, among many others, are frustrated and concerned that their university education may be at risk,” Carr said. “Many students have made substantial sacrifices to pursue a post-secondary education at Mount Allison University. The success of our province depends upon a strong, adaptive and educated workforce. We recognize that our post-secondary education sector is vital to growing New Brunswick’s economy and creating jobs in order to meet the needs of our evolving labour market.”

10-02-14
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tyler Campbell, communications, Department of Post-Secondary, Education, Training and Labour, 506-444-3194.