Part-time professors of the University of Ottawa (U of O) have recently voted to be ready to take strike action despite reaching a tentative agreement with administration.
The Association of Part-Time Professors of the University of Ottawa (APTPUO) have been in discussion with the U of O, as their previous contract concluded in August of last year.
According to the association’s website, the core issues of the bargaining, include “access to resources, workload, and the capacity to offer an education of high quality.”
“These issues are crucial since our members teach around 60% of the undergraduate classes at the University,” the website reads.
This isn’t the first time part-time faculty voted to strike at the university.
In 2017, a strike was averted after a tentative agreement was reached between the APTPUO and the administration.
In a statement released by U of O on Jan. 28, the university and APTPUO have reached a tentative agreement for a new collective agreement through talks with a mediator.
The details of the deal are not being made public until it is approved the university’s board of governors and the members of the APTPUO, the statement said.
APTPUO represents 2,500 members on campus, and the part-time professors teach half the courses offered by U of O, as stated on their website.
Despite coming to a tentative agreement, APTPUO will still be voting on a strike, according to their website.
An APTPUO statement said, “A strong strike mandate remains a good bargaining tool and we encourage all of our members to cast their ballot and help empower their bargaining committee.”
The association is holding a special membership meeting on Feb. 12 to have a ratification vote of tentative collective agreement followed by a presentation of the terms of the agreement.
Image by Spencer Colby
