After being on strike for about three weeks, CUPE 3912 union members and Dalhousie University have reached a tentative collective agreement.
On Tuesday, the union representing teaching assistants, markers and part-time instructors met to discuss the tentative deal that will be voted on this Saturday.
Union members went on strike to ask for higher wages to match inflation rates since the union hasn't seen a wage increase in over three years, and better benefits and work conditions.
Chris Hattie, acting assistant vice-president human resources, said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon that both parties have agreed to the terms of a collective agreement, reaching a tentative agreement.
"The next step is for this to be agreed upon or ratified by CUPE members and the University’s Board of Governors. CUPE’s negotiating team is scheduled to present details of the agreement to its members at a meeting this evening. It would then need to be voted on by CUPE’s membership," said Chris Hattie, acting assistant vice-president human resources.
He added a ratification vote will be held as quickly as possible, and if successful, CUPE employees will return to work within the coming days.
CUPE 3912 President Cameron Ells and Strike Communications Coordinator Mitch, who asked CKDU not to share his last name for safety reasons, said their new agreement includes significant wage increases.
"Marker and demonstrators are going to see a 45 per cent wage increase from the beginning of this agreement towards the end. TAs have about 25 per cent increase, And PTAs and clinical instructors have significant gains as well. This was to move us towards reaching parity with other comparable universities. We've not quite reached parity yet. But we've made significant strides in that direction," said Mitch.
Mitch added that the marker and demonstrator role was not eliminated as the union requested, but that the difference in pay between a marker and demonstrators and TA's has shrunk.
"Previously, a marker slash demonstrator would make 68 per cent of what a TA would make. With this tentative agreement, they would make 80 per cent of what TA would make. So the marker demonstrator loophole has not been closed but its total impact has been reduced," said Mitch.
CUPE 3912 President Cameron Ells said the voting is open until this Friday at midnight.
"The wages before for TA's were $24.41, and $16.61 for markers and demonstrators. For 2024, TA's salary will increase from $24.41 to $30.05 an hour, and $16.61 an hour to $24 an hour for markers and demonstrators," said Ells.
The picketing will continue until members vote in favour of an agreement.
Listen to the full interview below: