Strike avoided after MUN and lecturers' union reach last-minute deal
The lecturers' union has been without a new collective agreement for four years and has spent one year in talks with university administration. (Mike Simms/CBC)
A strike at Memorial University has been narrowly averted, with a tentative deal being reached between the administration and lecturers' union.
Members of LUMUN, which represents per-course instructors and post-doctoral fellows, voted overwhelmingly for a strike action last week, and the union set a deadline of Sunday at 11:59 p.m. to reach a deal with administrationor its members would walk.
On Sunday night at 11:30, the union announced in a statement it had reached a tentative agreement.
The lecturers' union has been without a new collective agreement for four years and has spent one year in talks with university administration.
"The next step will be to consult with our membership on the deal," said LUMUN spokesperson Alison Coffin in a statement.
"We are so grateful for the support we have received from students and from faculty, other unions, and the community at large.
Last month, LUMUN walked away from conciliation with the university's administration over what it called repeated delays and refusals to submit proposals over pay, blaming the university for the lack of progress.
Coffin had previously told CBC News that 75 per cent of its 200 members turned out to vote, with 90 per cent of them voting in favour of the job action.
Details to be approved
University spokesperson Chad Pelley told CBC News over email that the tentative agreement includes compensation improvements as well as working conditions.
He added the next step is ratification for both the board of regents and LUMUN members. As that process is ongoing, he said, MUN won't share more details about that tentative agreement.
"The university extends appreciation to the negotiating teams for both Memorial and LUMUN for their work in reaching this agreement," he wrote.
Classes and scheduled activities will continue on Monday, Pelley added.
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