UNB strike on hold

A strike or lockout has been avoided for the time being at the University of New Brunswick.

Donald Arsenault, the provincial minister of post-secondary education, training and labour, has appointed a conciliation board to try to settle the dispute between the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers and the university administration.

The two sides have been negotiating for months, but on Feb. 3 their talks with a conciliator fell through. The union, representing 600 full-time teachers, researchers and librarians, has been without a contract since last June 30.

The outstanding issues include maternity and parental leave and professional development allowances.

Jon O'Kane, UNB student union president, welcomed the appointment of a conciliation board.

"It's very rarely done, but what it means is both sides will pick someone and the two of those will find a third mediator, and they'll hash out discussions in a more delicate, detailed, personal way," O'Kane said.

Usually, the minister would issue a "no board" decision, he said, which would mean a strike or lockout would be the next step.

"So, what this means for students is negotiations will be ongoing and we're in a position where we won't see a strike or a lockout for a longer period of time," O'Kane said.

The conciliation board's report is not binding, but "I believe that this is a positive step because it reinforces the need to go back to the table," O'Kane said.

However, the union's website said this board interferes with the free collective bargaining process.

O'Kane agrees it does interfere with the union's ability to strike.

"It may be useful for teachers to be able to be in a position to exercise the ability to strike, or the university to use the ability to lock out while there is still a more legitimate threat of shutting down classrooms," O'Kane said. "So, that's where the conflict is — is this a natural way to do the negotiations?"