The Strike is over between Nipissing University and professors, with a tentative deal being reached early this morning.
Nipissing University President Dr. Mike DeGagné is very glad but says he cannot release any details yet until both sides are briefed. The Board of Governors vote on the deal tomorrow (Friday).
DeGagné feels that mediator was very helpful at the negotiation table. "We are very grateful, for the mediator helped guide us through this process. Negotiation broke out. Given that there was a willingness to find some common ground, we kept at it through the night and finished early this morning.”
Although students lost 20 days of school in the almost four week strike, DeGagné says it will be business as usual Monday morning.
“In terms of the compression of some of the time that we've lost, it will require Senate ratification. For the next three weeks, we will keep the students informed as we go along."
DeGagné added that the details of final exams will have to be worked out.
"Some professors may elect not to have a final in lieu of. They're going to use a variety of different ways to make up the time. The students will receive the instruction that they've been promised."
Productivity should rise after the tense strike between the administration and the faculty says DeGagné.
"I'm of the belief that sometimes you need to have those kinds of really pointed conversations and yes, even in a labour disruption as we've just experienced. People have to get what they need to off their chests. They feel that the issues are heard better. It will be difficult but I assure you, we welcome all of our faculty back."
The president of the Nipissing University Faculty Association (NUFA), Susan Srigley, is content yet exhausted after being up all night negotiating for over 20 hours.
"We are pleased and relieved. The process began with the mediator setting up exploratory talks. Those were conducted by our chief negotiator and the co-chair. Those talks went on with the employer and us and the mediator. Then at a certain point the rest of the bargaining committee and the executive came to approve the framework of an agreement. It was a multi-phased process over the course of the night."
Srigley says the faculty members will be notified of the details of the agreement and will likely vote on it early next week.
“The professors look forward to getting back into the classroom, seeing our students again and getting back to what we do best."
