University of Windsor Professors Set Strike Deadline — Wednesday, Oct. 19th

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Photo from 2008’s WUFA Strike

University of Windsor Professors, Librarians and academic staff represented by the Windsor University Faculty Association (WUFA) have set a strike deadline of Wednesday October, 19th 2011 at 12:01am.

WUFA filed for a “no board” report back in September and have been bargaining with University Administration ever since.

In a statement released Tuesday night on WUFA’s website, a negotiations update reads:

“Progress has been made at the negotiating table, with both sides making compromises. The administration, however, continues to insist on a radical restructuring of the pension plan. Other important issues remain outstanding.”

More than 1000 WUFA members voted 90% in favour of strike action on September 7th and 8th to back their side of the collective bargaining process and the union filed for a “no board” report with the Ministry of Labour (Ontario) on September 23rd.

WUFA lists their bargaining issues and concerns as “greater employment security for long serving sessionals”, “radical changes in our pension plan”, and “15 to 20% reduction in our take home pay” among others.

The University lists their concerns as “compensation costs, which account for the majority of the university’s operating budget”, “costs of supporting our pension plans” and that WUFA members continue to “receive base pay increases” since Provincial wage legislation was enacted in March 2010.

The University of Windsor was almost entirely shut down three years ago when WUFA went on strike on Wednesday September 17th, 2008. Students joined in to rally with their professors. Ultimately, the strike ended on October 1st of that year.

WUFA met with University Administration’s negotiators and a provincially-appointed conciliator on the 12th, 14th, 15th and 19th of September and on numerous dates in early October.

UWindsor professors and faculty have been without a collective agreement since the end of June.

WUFA indicates that it will meet with a provincially appointed mediator on Monday October 17th, two days in advance of it’s newly-set strike deadline.

If negotiation conditions deteriorate, and WUFA so chooses, University of Windsor Professors, Faculty and Librarians may be on strike as of Wednesday October 19th at 12:01am.