Concordia University of Edmonton faculty votes in favour of strike
The Concordia University of Edmonton’s faculty association could soon be the first in Alberta to go on strike.
Last week, 90 per cent of members voted in favour of the strike. The group represents 81 instructors, coordinators and librarians, and says an unreasonable workload is the number one issue facing its members.
Glynis Price with the faculty association says instructors operate on a four-four course load, which is standard, but are facing increasing research demands as the school looks to become a research institution.
“It’s very common across Canada if there are increasing research expectations to have a diminished teaching load so that faculty doesn’t become increasingly overwhelmed with the workload,” Price said, something she added hasn’t happened at Concordia.
In addition to research demands, Price says teachers also have departmental and committee duties, and larger class sizes mean the same schedule is more demanding.
“It has taken its toll. We see that manifesting across the faculty in mental health concerns, we see it in physical health concerns,” Price said.
“Our teaching conditions are the learning conditions for our students. If we are not at our best, we can’t give our best to our students.”
The association is asking for a workload that falls in line with comparable universities, and is continuing the bargaining process in the hopes of reaching an agreement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.