SAMRU representatives respond to Mount Royal faculty strike
"Although we don't have a voice at the table we, as students, have a stake in the outcome."
SAMRU representatives respond to Mount Royal faculty strike
Last week, we communicated with both MRU and the MRFA about the possible strike and urged both sides to come to an agreement quickly. We reminded them that students have had an inordinate amount of anxiety since the pandemic was declared in March 2020. Students have had to deal with switching back and forth from online classes to in-person to online again, isolation from our peers, and tuition increases among other things — and this potential strike situation is only making things worse.
As students ourselves, we and our peers are concerned about an interruption to the semester. We understand that there are many steps in the Alberta Labour Relations Board’s process and many decisions that need to be made by both parties before there would be a direct impact on the campus community.
This is an employment matter between MRU and the MRFA. But while SAMRU representatives are not involved in these employment negotiations or have a voice at the table we, as students, have a stake in the outcome. This is why we continue to represent the views of our membership to both faculty and to administration, advocating for predictability and stability for students by arriving at an agreement as soon as possible.
We have prepared a FAQ below to help answer some immediate questions you may have. The REC team has also planned a live virtual town hall on February 10, 2022, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm because we want to hear from students about your concerns. We hope student feedback will bolster our advocacy with the administration and the faculty. A link to the virtual town hall will be sent out to all students on Feb 9th. We will also post a Google form for those who can't make the town hall but still want to provide feedback. There will be a follow-up town hall if the MRFA passes a strike vote.
Ongoing updates will be provided as the process moves forward and as we get more information. If you have questions, please contact your REC team and we will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.
