UPEI Community Bulletin: University Bargaining Team continues to try to find resolution
The University remains committed to achieving a collective agreement with the UPEI Faculty Association (UPEI FA) that is consistent with other primarily undergraduate universities in the region and is in the best interests of our students.
The University is hopeful we can reach a collective agreement prior to the strike date set by the UPEI FA. The University has offered options including entering interest arbitration as a way to a resolution. The University bargaining team continues to work on solutions based on the more than 40 days of negotiations held to date. To that end, in addition to the three forward-moving proposals we presented on February 28, the University sent ten further proposals to the UPEI FA that contain solutions to outstanding issues on Friday, March 10. We also withdrew two proposals that we had previously made, to which the UPEI FA had not agreed or submitted a counter proposal.
We are optimistic that the UPEI FA will consider our proposals and respond to our offers of a path forward.
UPEI recognizes the uncertainty for students as a result of the UPEI FA decision to set a strike deadline. The University will do everything in its power to ensure that students have the opportunity to complete their semester.
The University will continue to provide factual information on any developments. In the event of a UPEI FA strike, the campus community will receive notice through their UPEI email accounts. The UPEI Labour Relations website—upei.ca/labour—will continue to be updated with frequently asked questions and includes all previous updates and issue briefs.
Please know that there are supports available for you. If you need assistance, UPEI has a number of resources for students through UPEI Student Affairs, including personal counselling (studentserv@upei.ca), and the International Student Office (irostu@upei.ca). UPEI faculty and staff can access resources on the HR site on myUPEI while eligible employees can call the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-387-4765 for support.
