Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.
(Halifax) Conciliation talks broke off last night between Dalhousie University and its part-time faculty and teaching assistants, leaving the union no recourse but to hit the picket line, honouring its strike deadline of Thursday midnight. The sticking point in negotiations is the rate of pay for teaching assistants which is well below the national average.

Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3912 President Barbara Moore says the union is extremely disappointed that the university has refused to budge on this issue.

In light of the fact that the province has just increased funding to Dalhousie by almost $4 million, this is a real slap in the face to teaching assistants, who work hard to provide program and faculty support to the university, says Moore.

Teaching assistants at Dalhousie are among the lowest paid in Canada, earning almost $10 an hour less than the national average. Most of them work from six to ten hours per week.

Teaching assistants are not only being asked to accept lousy pay, as students they are being hit with yet another tuition increase of over seven percent this fall, adds Moore. Tuition rates have increased at a greater rate than teaching assistants earnings this is unacceptable and the university should be ashamed of its meager offer.

The union is optimistic it will receive strong support from other employees on campus.

CUPE Local 3912 represents some 930 TAs and Part-Time Instructors at Dal.

For information:

Barbara Moore, President, CUPE Local 3912 (902) 542-7981, 670-4398 (cell)

Peter Baxter, CUPE National Rep. (902) 455-4180 (o)

Gail McNeil, CUPE Communications (902) 423-2768

opeiu 491