Western University and union representing faculty reach tentative agreement, avert strike

Western University and a union representing about 1,500 faculty and staff averted a strike to reach a tentative agreement on a new contract.

It is the result of months of negotiations between the Western University Faculty Association and the University of London, Ontario.

After 91% of its members voted to approve strike action last month, the union set a deadline for the strike just before midnight on Monday.

The union said some of the main issues in the negotiations were fair workloads, equal access to benefits and job security for contract teachers.

Negotiations were capped by a state law limiting public sector wages to 1% annual increases for three years.

The two sides began negotiations in April, and faculty and staff had been working without a contract since June.

This report by the Canadian Press was first published on November 14, 2022.