First week in the books! Thanks to all SMU PT Faculty members who joined the picket lines or did other strike duties to support our collective fight for a fair deal!
The big event on Friday was the rally! I estimated approx. 100 people include PT and FT faculty, students, politicians, other union activisits and CAUT flying pickets from across the country as far away as BC coming to support us.
- Speeches: Lauren, myself, Neil, Christine Saulnier, Paul Wozney (Labour Critic), Erica, Cathy Conrad (SMUFU), David Westwood (DFA) and flying pickets from the CAUT Defense Fund
- Flying pickets: Bren LeFrancois MUNFU, Hassen Qudrat-Ullah YUFA, Rick Brick AASUA, Barb Baker AASUA, Cameron McKenzie WLUFA, Mike Arfken UPEIFA, Arnaud Duhoux SGPPUM, Colin Jones BCITSFA, John Reed UWOFA, Georges Liboy APPBUSA, Rob Fennell ASTFA, Yalla Sangare CAUT Treasurer
- Some key messages from others included their expression of solidarity and they have our back so keep up the good fight!
- Also in attendance were some staff from CUPE National, Lisa Lachance (politician) and a shark
- We saw security guards and visitors to the SMU Open House looking at our rally. I’m not sure what they were thinking but I got one of the security guards to wave to me.
News stories:
- https://www.youtube.com/live/g4nymP3vtmA?si=X7R4oJWX0PU63K_M&t=804
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/video/2025/10/22/msvu-part-time-faculty-going-on-strike-wednesday/
- https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/10/22/part-time-faculty-at-mount-saint-vincent-university-to-strike-wednesday/
- https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/nova-scotia/part-time-faculty-on-strike-at-mount-saint-vincent-university-in-halifax/article_2922163b-faf1-5f06-9f16-693f89649355.html
- https://iqmediacorp.com/ExternalIframeMedia?mediaID=4e3c81c4-d237-4e1c-a48f-feb2b8364cb2&isRM=false&rawMediaType=TV
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/many-classes-suspended-halifax-universities-part-time-faculty-strike-9.6950234
After the rally – and making some loud noise close to where the administrators were hanging out – there was solidarity ice cream for everyone. There seems to be plenty of food. Every time I’ve been on the picket line there has been coffee, Timbits, drinks and sandwiches.
We now have a portapotty. Even though the Mount and Dal allowed picketers to use their washroom facilities, SMU has banned us from campus. There are other options a few blocks away. I’m not sure if any of them are official but if you buy something at a café you can usually use their bathroom.
SMUFU will join us every day!
There was also a rally at the Mount. The flying pickets flew from one rally to another today.
We’ll be back on the picket tomorrow Monday October 27th —come by and say hi anytime between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM! If you have any questions, please email Erica or Neil.
