From:    Vicky Smallman smallman@interlog.com
  To:      Workplace
  Date:    Wednesday - March 21, 2001 10:14 AM
  Subject: SMU Part-time faculty in strike position 
 
 

 HALIFAX - Part-time faculty at Saint Mary's University, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3912, will be in a legal strike position March 30. The conciliation officer filed his report after the university and the union were unable to resolve wage and
 seniority issues.

  "We are still hopeful that we will be able to achieve a settlement before that date," says CUPE National Rep Linda Clancy. "It is not our wish to disrupt exams, and we expect the university feels the same. We are willing to return to the table at any time to prevent that worst case  scenario from happening. The employees are asking for a wage increase that will bring them closer to what is earned by part-time faculty at other universities across thecountry. In addition, they have rejected the university's proposal to
give retired professors the first option on teaching part-time courses, and to bargaining unit members.

  CUPE represents approximately 230 part-time faculty at Saint Mary's, as well as part-time faculty at Dalhousie and Mount Saint Vincent Universities. Part-time faculty at Dalhousie and the Mount applied for conciliation on 
February 27.