Striking professors are planning to make lots of noise near the Universite Sainte-Anne campus in Church Point tomorrow.
They plan to bang pots and pans to protest a recent decision by the university to close the student cafeteria.
Professors and librarians walked off the job last Thursday, as talks on a new collective agreement with the university remain far apart.
Professor Dr. Darryl Whetter says the cafeteria closure is an example of the university’s ‘autocratic management style.’
“Students who used to be in residences where they were being fed by our cafeteria, the school has moved them into residences which have kitchenettes, and they expect students to cook for themselves without providing a lot of cooking utensils,” says Whetter.
He says they plan to bang the pots and pans in a ‘Tintamarre’ style parade by the campus.
Whetter says they’ll then donate the utensils to students in need.
He says 93 per cent of professors and librarians were in favour of strike action.
“So many felt that contract talks had gone on too long with the administration just saying no to everything. We felt like it was a last resort to restore what should be more collective governance at the university.”
Whetter says money is not being invested in the best way possible for students, and there’s not enough transparency.
We’ve reached out to the university for comment on the cafeteria closure.
President and Vice-Chancellor Allister Surette told Acadia News Friday that staff are working to get back to the negotiating table as soon as possible.
Surette says there’s been no negotiation on monetary items, or concerns about workload.
