Frequently Asked Questions
On this page, you will find the answers to some Frequently Asked
Questions. If you don’t see an answer to a question you have,
please submit it directly via the following email link with the
subject line "JAC FAQ".
The JAC will work to provide an answer directly to you ASAP. Additionally,
we will post your question with answer here
to benefit others. Email your questions to the JAC.
(put "JAC FAQ" in the subject line)
The following FAQs were posted on Feb.
2, 2004. They deal with strike votes and strikes and are also
available in PDF and
TEXT.
Note: Older FAQs
can still be found HERE.
STRIKE VOTES AND STRIKES: The why’s and wherefore’s from the JAC
At the last FA general meeting, the membership voted to allow a strike vote. Months prior to that, following
CAUT guidelines, the FA formed a Job Action Committee (JAC) to prepare for possible job actions. As part
of our ongoing preparations, the JAC feels the time is right to release information regarding the topic of
strike votes and strikes. We hope the following Frequently Asked Questions will be useful in understanding
some of the details associated with this job action possibility. Along the way, the JAC has worked on the
premise that the best way to avoid a strike is to prepare for one. Further information is being prepared and
will be made available over the next while. Please continue to monitor your email and watch the JAC website for more news. Also, please feel free to contact your Communication Representative,
myself or any member of the JAC if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely
Wayne Peters
Chair, the JAC
Why have a strike vote?
How would a strike vote be carried out?
Does a strike vote mean there will be a strike?
What is the history of faculty strikes in Canada?
How will I survive financially if we strike?
What will happen on Campus if there is a strike?
What about essential and emergency services?
What do I have to do to receive strike pay?
How does this affect sessionals?
How will picketing work?
Will I have access to my office or the Robertson Library during a strike or lock out?
What else should I know?
Why have a strike
vote?
In the event that there are still significant shortcomings in the Administration’s current offer, a large majority
voting in favour in a strike vote would give our negotiating team leverage to extract the concessions needed
to get the deal we all want. Twice before, in April and early January, after shows of solidarity and support
by the membership, the Administration moved to more reasonable positions in negotiations. Presumably, by
now, the strong resolve of the FA membership is well known. However, a strong show of support on a strike
vote would demonstrate, to even those not convinced of our strong resolve, that we are serious when we say
we want parity with other similar universities.
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How would a strike vote be carried out?
Any strike vote would be by secret ballot, probably held on Campus over two days. All members of the
Bargaining Unit would be eligible to vote, and we would invite scrutineers from interested parties to ensure
integrity of the process.
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Does a strike vote mean there will be a strike?
While we hope that a large majority voting yes on a strike vote will be enough to convince Administration
to move at the negotiating table, it is also the last chance for the membership to make their wishes known.
While strike votes are relatively common among faculty associations in Canada there have been relatively
few strikes (less than one per year since 1971). However, a strike vote is not a bluff, it is an authorization
for a strike. In reality there are only two choices for the FA membership at this point: either accept the
Board's current offer, or increase the leverage which the FA negotiating team has at the bargaining table by
voting to strike. The FA Executive and the JAC have been preparing for the contingency of strike, and if it
comes to that, we are ready. A strike headquarters has been established, guidelines for conducting a strike
have been prepared and numerous FA members have already volunteered to fill many of the key roles in case
of a strike. There have been extensive consultations with CAUT about the conduct of any strike, and the
CAUT defence fund has approved strike pay and a line of credit for the FA.
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What is the history of faculty strikes in Canada?
There have been 31 faculty strikes in Canada. Fifty percent of these strikes lasted two weeks or less, and
three quarters lasted three weeks or less.
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How will I survive financially if we strike?
Strikes are often timed to begin on a Monday after payday. The FA Executive has already made arrangements
with the Administration to pay your benefits (insurance, health coverage, etc.) in the event of a strike. We are
part of the CAUT defence fund, which is extremely well funded, so for the duration of the strike, and beginning
on the first day of the strike, FA members will receive at least $60 per day in Strike Pay. FA members will be
expected to perform some strike duties to receive this pay. This pay is tax free and with no deductions, so take-home strike pay will be at least $840 biweekly. This is roughly equivalent to the take home pay of someone
at Step 1 of the current Assistant Professor scale. If you feel this is not enough to live on, that is just more
reason to support a strike.
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What will happen on Campus if there is a strike?
If there is a strike, Faculty will not have a legal right to enter campus, and the Administration will be within
their rights to charge people who do so with trespassing. The purpose of a strike is to exert maximum pressure
on Administration. To do so, the executive of the FA is asking all members to withdraw all services that
advance the mission of UPEI. No teaching, no committee work, no research, no service. If a FA member
teaches a course, or engages in other job activities during a strike, it may serve to prolong the strike, as the
Administration may take that as a sign of weakness in the FA. To ensure any strike is as short as possible, all
FA members should respect the expressed will of the FA as a whole and their colleagues and withdraw all
services.
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What about essential and emergency services?
For those essential and emergency services at the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital, for instance, or those
associated with a FA member’s research program , it is the position of the FA that such activities will be
allowed to be attended to during any work stoppage. We will try to reach agreement with the Administration
on protocols to allow campus access for specified FA members to perform essential services during any work
stoppage. No one wants to see research programs put in jeopardy or animals suffer and all efforts will be made
to ensure this does not happen. A detailed policy on this matter is being drafted, and will be made available on
the FA website when completed.
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What do I have to do to receive strike pay?
In order to receive strike pay, FA members will have to perform strike duty. These are actions taken to support
the strike. The standard strike duty is Picketing, but other important duties involve work in communication,
transportation and organization. The JAC will be responsible for running the strike and assigning duties, and
are still looking for volunteers to perform certain roles. If a FA member has a physical disability or medical
condition which precludes them from picketing, there will be plenty of other useful roles to play in having a
successful strike. We will be asking FA members to be very active during the first week of the strike, in order
to generate maximum visibility for our cause, but if a strike continues beyond one week, we estimate that
approximately 12 hours of strike duty per week will be enough to be eligible for strike pay.
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How does this affect sessionals?
Sessionals are members in full standing in the FA and, as such, are expected to participate fully in the strike
to be eligible for strike pay. However, we realize that many sessionals have other jobs or commitments and may
not have the time to get involved in strike duties. If you are in this category, all we are asking is that you show
your support for the FA by withdrawing your services to UPEI during a strike.
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How will picketing work?
The plan is to have Picket Lines set up at each of the two main entrances to UPEI. As the weather will probably
be on the cool side, each Picket shift will be two to three hours long, and we would picket from 7 am til 5 pm
on weekdays. There will be a Picket Captain at each site to organize the Picket shift and to handle any unusual
situations which arise, and information will be delivered to all picketers on acceptable behaviour. There will
be shelter vehicles, food and beverages, and even occasional entertainment, to ensure it is not too
uncomfortable. We would not be stopping traffic from entering campus nor would we be confrontational in any
way. The picket line slows traffic entering campus as leaflets are distributed concerning the status of our FA.
This will demonstrate our resolve to administration, keep the issue in the public eye, and keep the campus
community informed.
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Will I have access to my office or the Robertson Library during a strike or lock out?
The FA will be discouraging all members from going on campus for any reason during a strike. If you have
resources or materials in your office that you would like to have with you in the event of a strike or lock out,
arrange to take them with you prior to any work stoppage. In the event of a strike by the FA, you will have
sufficient notice to arrange this. However, the FA cannot guarantee that this would be the case should the Board
lock us out. Also, be advised that the employer MAY NOT permit members to go on campus for any reason
in either event.
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What else should I know?
Although a strike is the most adversarial step in an adversarial process, we will attempt to maintain relatively
cordial relations with UPEI Administration. Hopefully, the Administration will reciprocate, and agree to
reasonable requests. However, you should expect to be denied access to offices and other UPEI facilities during
a strike. Access to all research accounts, which are owned by faculty members and only administered by the
University, are supposed to be maintained, but there may be some disruption in this area. Another possible
Administration action is disabling UPEI e-mail accounts, so it is important that the JAC has alternate contact
info for all members. Further information is being prepared on these issues and will be made available over the
next while. Please continue to monitor your email and watch the JAC website (www.upeifa.org/JAC) for more
news. If you have other questions, contact your Communication Representative, or the JAC directly at
[email protected].
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