Our resolution (resolution #204) at CUPE National Convention was adopted.

This means that CUPE will:

1. Renew campaigning through lobbying and mobilization of all levels of government for comprehensive, public post-secondary funding. In particular, CUPE will pressure the federal government to legislate anational Post-Secondary Education Act with statutory, accountable federal funding for post-secondary education
2. Develop resources for locals and chartered organizations to raise public awareness of the value of CUPE’s Post-Secondary Education Workers, support efforts to fight post-secondary education cuts, and protect these members’ jobs.

You can read the documents from the convention:

• Download the adopted Strategic Directions document
• Download the adopted constitutional amendments
• Download the adopted resolutions

French:

• Téléchargez le document d’orientation stratégique
• Téléchargez les amendements statutaires adoptés
• Téléchargez les résolutions adoptées

Strike Duties

Note: We need volunteers to be drivers for onsite picketing, and to support logistics. Please email vp.msvu.cupe3912@gmail.com to volunteer.

Virtual Strike Duties

We now have virtual strike duties! Virtual duties are for those of you who are unable to be present at the picket line at MSVU; this option is only for members who have limitations due to work commitments outside of MSVU, place of residence, and accessibility needs that make on-site picket duties inappropriate. Sign up here.

Onsite Picket Line at MSVU

Bring warm clothes, a lawn chair, and join us on the picket line. Please sign up for your shifts using this form.

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.

There is a letter writing campaign to support MSVU part-time faculty during their strike. Please add your name and share widely.

Tomorrow morning, October 24, 2025, we are having two rallies for our striking members:

• At MSVU, 10-11 a.m., in front of the Seton Academic Centre, 166 Bedford Highway
• At SMU, 12-1 p.m., in front of the Burke Building, on Inglis Street

All members, students, supporters, community members are invited. A flying picket squad from the Canadian Association of University Teachers will be joining us from across Canada.

Please spread the word. Bring noise makers. Bring solidarity. Let’s make a great showing for these striking members of our local.

After a long final day of conciliation, we were unable to reach a fair agreement with our employer, and as of tomorrow morning, Thursday, 23  October, we will officially be on strike.

You have already received communication about what this means for your labour and about where to meet to begin picketing and other strike duties. When you arrive at the picket line, please check in with a picket captain to make sure your picketing hours get correctly recorded. For those picketing outdoors: please dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather. If you have been assigned for other strike duties after 4:30 PM or if you have any questions about your schedule or the location, please email Erica or Neil. You can also call Neil at 416-906-3006.

Once again, if you are reading this notice and haven’t provided a non-university  contact email, please do so by filling out this form.

You can keep your students informed without crossing picket lines by setting your out-of-office reply to the following message:

Dear students and colleagues,

I will not be responding to work emails for the time being, as I am on strike in pursuit of a fair working contract. I will address your email once an agreement has been reached with Saint Mary’s administration. For regular labour updates, visit CUPE3912.ca or follow us on social media @CUPE3912.

In solidarity,

[Your name]

Your efforts matter to our collective bargaining process. Our victories are our students’ victories, because our working conditions are their learning conditions. Our fight today makes for a better classroom in future.

October 22, 2025

• Get ready for a strike tomorrow! Although it may not happen – we can always hope for a last minute agreement – we are ready! Please read the emails from your union carefully, especially the one earlier today (“What to Expect If a Strike Is Called” from Erica Fischer and Neil Balan).
• I’ve heard rumours that there may be food, clothing and other swag for us on the picket lines.
• I hope you have been encouraging our students to join us on the pickets lines if we are on strike. Please welcome them.
• A big THANK-YOU to our CUPE 3912 president, Lauren McKenzie, and the CUPE 3912 executive and bargaining teams. I know how much goes on behind the scenes. It is a lot of work! The work they do in getting us a good deal is much appreciated!
• Our colleagues at CAUT are ready to support us. Flying pickets are coming in for support on Friday!
• The strike has started at the Mount. Jessica from the Mount bargaining team reports: There are about 30 faculty here along with students, some full-time faculty and two dogs. The weather is great and everybody’s happy. We’re making signs and ringing cowbells. People are concerned and worried and want to get back to work, but we are ready to fight for a fair deal.

In solidarity,
Karen Harper
CUPE 3912 SMU strike committee member

Following the final round of negotiations today, October 21, MSVU CUPE 3912 has confirmed that strike action will proceed, beginning at 12:01 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, as no agreement was reached with the employer.

The strike will officially start with a gathering at noon on Wednesday, October 22, at the Seton Building entrance. From that point onward, teaching will cease, and no new materials or assignments will be provided. Staff will also halt the grading and return of any assignments during the strike.

At the initial meeting, we will organize and begin the picketing process. For those unable to attend in person, a summary of key updates will be sent by email.

Further updates will be shared as the situation develops.

For more information, contact your strike committee:
vp.msvu.cupe3912@gmail.com
cupe3912.msvu.steward@gmail.com