THUNDER BAY — The association representing medical education faculty, librarians and professional staff at NOSM University is warning of a potential strike after it submitted a request for a "no-board" report from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development.
If the ministry issues the report, it will trigger the countdown to a possible strike or lockout as early as the end of this month.
The NOSM U Faculty and Staff Association — comprising Unit 1 of OPSEU Local 677 — gave its bargaining team a strike mandate in August, and accused the university administration of trying to remove rights in the areas of job security and resources for teaching and research, among others.
The last collective agreement with the 41-member local expired at the end of June.
Since Sept. 22, a provincial mediator has been working with the parties to try to achieve a settlement.
But in a statement Tuesday, the union said administration "continues to stonewall proposals crucial for education quality, equity and job security."
It noted that enrolment at NOSM U's Thunder Bay and Sudbury campuses is projected to double over the next five years, and alleged that what administration is seeking would undermine the university's capacity to train the doctors that are needed in Northern Ontario communities.
The university has not yet issued a response.
