Western profs build strike war chest

University of Western Ontario faculty could be on strike as early as the first week of November, and they will have no shortage of funds to pay for it. The Canadian Association of University Teachers has donated $1million, in the form of an over-sized novelty cheque, to the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association. The donation comes from CAUT’s $22 million strike defence fund that was established in 1978.

On Oct 1 Western professors voted 87 per cent in favor of giving the faculty association a strike mandate. Last week, the union requested a government appointed conciliator file a no-board report, meaning that a negotiated settlement could not be reached with the university. Under Ontario labour laws, a cooling off period of 17 days is required before the union can legally strike. Unless a settlement is reached, classes could be canceled by the first week of November.

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