(Montreal) Nearly 1,300 professors at Laval University, in Quebec City, will go on strike on February 20.
These members of the Union of Professors and Professors of Laval University (SPUL) will thus exercise the strike mandate that they approved at the general meeting on January 20, in a proportion of 96%, according to the union.
They thus deplore the “little progress made at the negotiating table”.
Wages, in an inflationary context, and overwork are among the main points in dispute with the employer.
The union says it also wants to “better protect colleagues who do not have permanent status and who are on sick leave”.
“Since May 27, we have given the employer multiple opportunities to negotiate to resolve the problems that have affected our collective agreement for many years. We even postponed the exercise of our strike mandate by one month […] Unfortunately, the employer did not take advantage of these opportunities”, deplores the SPUL in a press release sent Wednesday evening.
The Union of Professors and Professors of Laval University (SPUL) represents more than 1,280 professors working at the heart of the 16 faculties of Laval University, according to its website.
Several classes canceled
The announced strike is scheduled for a period of two weeks, said Université Laval, in turn by means of a press release.
“Although the teaching, supervision and research activities offered by the professors affiliated with the SPUL bargaining unit are suspended during the strike, the activities offered by the other members of the teaching staff will continue normally”.
Reference is made here in particular to the work of lecturers, teaching doctors and dental clinicians and other employees responsible for practical training.
“The list of activities affected by the strike will be available to the student community by the end of the week in monPortail”, specifies Université Laval.
“The next few days will be hectic and we know the situation can be stressful for students. The Student Help Center is not affected, like all University services. Do not hesitate to call on it,” declared the vice-rector for studies and student affairs, responsible for health, Cathia Bergeron.
The press release states that “Laval University requested on January 20 the appointment of a conciliator at the negotiating table” in the hope of reaching an agreement.