Agreement ratified between faculty and Laurentian University

The Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) said the majority of its members have voted in favour of ratifying a new collective agreement, ending a three-week strike.

Members of LUFA voted on the deal on Sunday. The union did not release further details about how many faculty members voted or the percentage of members who voted in favour of the deal.

“Unfortunately, this new agreement will maintain a gap between our working conditions and those offered at universities across the province,” Fabric Colin, president of LUFA stated in a press release.

“It is merely a small step toward fairness. Laurentian’s administration missed the opportunity to rebuild trust, and work with us toward rebuilding a stronger, better university following the 2021 bankruptcy proceedings.”

Colin said some gains were made, but “on the broader question of rebuilding trust, Laurentian failed us, our students and the northern community.”

“Our membership voted at a meeting to organize a vote of non-confidence in the Board of Governors and senior administration,” he said.

“We are ready to get back to the classroom and support our students and deliver the high-quality education they deserve. We absolutely do that. But for our members, there is little to celebrate here after years or program cuts, job losses and wage rollbacks.”

The university has not issued an updated statement since the deal was ratified, but on Jan. 29, president Lynn Wells addressed some of the union's concerns.

“It’s clear to me that pain and anger persist due to the legacy of Laurentian’s insolvency,” she said.

“We can’t undo the past, but we should learn from it as we work together to build a future. Ensuring that Laurentian University is strong for the future is not a given. It is a choice we must make every day.”