An arbitrator has issued a decision that includes two increases of one percent per year over a four-year term for members of the Acadia University faculty union.
William Kaplan’s sentence, dated July 29, followed a July 21 hearing in Halifax.
Both parties have agreed to binding arbitration following acrimonious contract talks that included a month-long teachers’ strike earlier this year.
The union was demanding a 7.6% wage increase over three years, while the university, citing major financial difficulties, argued for a 5% raise over four years.
Kaplan agreed to a four-year term, in part to provide “some necessary stability”, and he set salaries to increase by 1% on January 1 and July 1 of each year retroactive to July 1, 2021. Kaplan quit the final year increase subject to reopening given the uncertainty of inflation.
Tenure issues
The number of permanent posts was also an issue between the two sides.
A long-standing clause states that the university must maintain a permanent flow of 182 professors and 10 librarians, but this clause has been suspended by agreement since 2010 and is now based on 162 professors and nine librarians.
The union wanted the numbers reinstated, however, Kaplan ruled that the tax reasons given by the university and no noticeable enrollment growth made it reasonable to keep the numbers where they are for the duration of the agreement.
If retirements or departures occur during the term of the contract, Kaplan said positions must be filled quickly to maintain 162 faculty and nine librarians.
Acadie’s financial difficulties
Kaplan notes that Acadia officials drew attention in their brief to “significant” current and future tax challenges. One-third of the school’s revenue comes from government funding, which has only increased by one percent each year, while tuition is capped for Nova Scotia students.
Annual revenue for the Wolfville-based university is growing 2% per year, with expenses increasing 3-4%.
The university said it also had to spend $100 million or more on aging physical and technological infrastructure.
Despite efforts to remedy the situation through various measures, the university said it continued to have an operating deficit and “significant long-term debt”.
Efforts to improve workforce diversity
Both parties expressed a desire to increase faculty diversity, and Kaplan agreed to a proposed memorandum of understanding that requires three hires of Mi’kmaw and Indigenous candidates and three hires of African Nova Scotian/Canadian candidates during the contract length.
It also increased the Health Spending Account by $250 and provided a one-time 4% per-course allowance adjustment.
Erin Crandall, associate professor in the department of politics and president of the union, said the union is pleased that many of the things it is asking for have been granted, although binding arbitration is not its preferred route to reaching a settlement. OK.
Crandall said the union and university bargaining teams will meet in the coming weeks to review the decision and agree on final wording for a new collective agreement. At this point, it will be signed by both parties.
In a statement, a university spokesperson thanked Kaplan for his work.
“He resolved issues where our parties were unable to find common ground during the collective bargaining process. Having a four-year contract will bring more stability to our entire campus and our objective now is to prepare for the next academic year and to focus on our common mission to provide a transformative educational experience for students in Acadia.
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