Strike FAQ

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After hearing about our strike mandate, the Dalhousie administration have asked to meet with us again. This meeting is set for January 26th, 2024. If they are unwilling to offer us what we deserve in this meeting, then we will be forced to take strike action as soon as possible afterwards.

There are currently two short strike training sessions organised (click on the dates below to register for a session):

January 18th 5-7pm

January 24th 6:30-8:30pm

We are also organising a longer training session for picket captains, strike captains, and coordinators (see below for details on what these positions are). This will take place on either January 20th or 27th. Details will follow once this is confirmed.

We have several committees currently set up:

• Communications and political/community action
• Strike committee
• Finance and hardship fund allocation committee

Members of these committees are already hard at work, but we are always happy to have additional hands! Please reach out to info@a-duress.ca if you'd like to get involved.

If we take strike action, we will have (see below for descriptions of these positions):

• Picketers (striking members)
• Picket captains
• Strike captains
• Area coordinator
• Regional strike coordinator (regional representative)
• Regional strike coordinating committee

Note that these are subject to change; these descriptions are fairly general and the way that a strike is carried out in our specific case may differ.

• Reports to picket captain
• Participates in strike shifts in designated areas (typically 4 hours per day to be eligible for the full strike pay (see below)
• Signs in with picket captain on arrival and when leaving their picket shift
• Stays in contact with and follows direction of Strike and Picket captains
• Respects union and employer policies while on the picket line 
• Wears and shares the union's message while on picket shift
• Receives strike pay
• Refrains from participating in behaviours that may adversely impact bargaining and/or picket integrity

• Reports to Strike Captain
• Responsible for a team of Picketers
• Maintains accurate record of team attendance
• Follows-up with members who do not report for picket duty
• Disseminates information to Picketers 
• Helps to maintain picket line: (1) Briefs picketers on activities, rights, and duties; (2) Ensures their team has supplies and other necessities; (3) Shares updates / info with team; (4) Helps to keep the line moving, checks signs and placards; and (5) Morale, Morale, Morale! 
• Reports incidents / irregularities / problems to Strike Captain 
• Helps to deal with visitors, public, media, security, police etc. 

• Reports to Area Coordinator
• Coordinates strike activity at picket line 
• Disseminates information to Picket Captains 
• Helps to develop picketing / strike plan that meets the needs of the members 
• Works with Picket Captains to establish effective picketing system: Morale, morale, morale!
• Reports all incidents / irregularities / problems to Area Coordinator 
• Helps to integrate non-striking units and essential service workers into picket line
• Ensures Picket Captains and other strike leaders have information and resources required 
• Acts as liaison with police, media and other visitors at the picket line 

• Serves as member of Regional Strike Coordinating Committee
• Coordinates all strike activity at the worksite
• Disseminates information to Strike Captains 
• Works with Strike Captains to establish effective picketing system 
• Helps ensure committees (e.g. communications, picketing, hardship, accessibility, essential service) are effective
• Helps ensure non-striking members are integrated into the plan (Grant Paid, other unions at Dal, etc.)
• Liaise with Regional Strike Coordinator, Strike Captains and others to ensure strike actions are running smoothly: (1) Ensures strike leaders have the information and resources they require; (2) Identifies the need for, requests / delivers information or supplies; and (3) Makes contact and maintains liaison with the local police authority
• Reports daily to Regional Strike Coordinator any incidents / events that require recording or follow up (e.g. injuries, media contact, police attendance, etc.)

• PSAC Regional Representative (Sharon Barbour)
• Coordinates strike training 
• Develops / monitors budgets
• Ensures appropriate strike support from Regional Office: (1) Strike pay; (2) Supplies; (3) All inquiries; and (4) Follow-up on events / incidents as required
• Keeps the Area Coordinator informed about strategy / direction of strike
• Ensures quick information flow throughout the strike structure – Area Coordinator to Picketers 

• Chaired by the Regional Executive Vice-President (Chris Di Liberatore): (1) Bargaining team members; (2) Negotiator; (3) PSAC Mobilization Officer; (4) Legal Advisor; (5) Regional Representative; (6) Area Coordinator
• This committee has already been meeting to discuss necessary preparations for strikes etc. for almost a year
• Coordinates PSAC resources and activities in support of negotiations / strike 
• Develops broad mobilization and strike support strategies 
• Makes recommendations to the National President & Alliance Executive Committee
• Committee makeup varies, depending on the scope of the unit on strike

A strike is when employees withdraw their labour to pressure their Employer (in our case, Dalhousie University) to agree to their demands in collective bargaining.

A strike is the legal act of ceasing work during contract negotiations to pressure the Employer to agree to employees’ demands in collective bargaining. Typically, this is paired with employees picketing.

It is constitutionally protected under The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (s. 2(d)). In the event of a strike, members would likely lose access to things like University buildings and emails. It is therefore really important to provide us with your alternative contact details!

A lockout would happen if Dalhousie University refused to allow union members (postdocs) to come to work unless they agree with the proposed collective agreement.

The main difference between the two is in who makes the decision to stop work, although the effects would be very similar and everything below that applies to a strike would also apply in the event of a lockout.

A strike mandate means that members authorise a strike if Dalhousie University refuses to agree to a fair collective agreement. 

A strong strike mandate is the best way to avoid a strike, because it shows the University that:

• we are serious about our demands for fair working conditions, and
• we are unified and willing to take action to protect our rights, if necessary.

Approving a mandate to authorise strike action does not necessarily mean that a strike will happen. For example, postdocs at McMaster University held a strike vote and gave their bargaining unit a strike mandate, but settled without going on strike.

The process for members to decide whether to approve a strike mandate. 

We have already held a strike vote and have a strong strike mandate. 

Below is the information initially in this section:

A strong strike mandate is an important tool for making the Employer agree to a fair collective agreement.

The more members vote Yes on a strike vote:

• the more likely Dalhousie University is to agree to a fair collective agreement; and
• the less likely that we actually have to go on strike to protect our rights.

In order to authorise a strike mandate, 50% + 1 of current postdoctoral fellow employees would need to vote Yes. Members who do not vote are counted as voting against a strike mandate under Nova Scotia legislation.

We cannot be forced to go on strike - it would only happen if we voted, as detailed above. However, Dalhousie University could choose to lock us out. The implications of this would essentially be the same as going on strike, but it would not be decided by us. 

At this point, no. We have already delivered a majority signature and majority photo petition to the Dalhousie University administration. Other options such as a walk-out, picketing or work-to-rule are all considered strike action and require a strike mandate.  

A strike would last until an agreement between postdocs and Dalhousie University is reached, or until the government legislates postdocs back to work (but this is unconstitutional).

As a PSAC union member, you can receive strike pay through the PSAC national strike fund. Note that to receive this, you must sign a PSAC membership card (you can do that here; it is free). This pay is $75 per day (tax free) and requires you to do 4 hours of strike duties to get the full amount. 

There is also a PSAC strike hardship fund, and the Local has put together a $20,000 strike hardship fund to be allocated by a committee in the event of a strike. 

If the Dalhousie Administration refuses to pay benefits while on strike, the Alliance Executive Council of the PSAC can make the decision to pay them. 

You cannot legally be fired or punished for picketing or performing other union activities as per Section 53(3)(a) and Section 53(3)(f) of the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act.

Yes, foreign workers are entitled to be part of a lawfully authorized strike. Work permits cannot be revoked despite the occurrence of a labour dispute, such as a strike or lockout, at the workplace. 

In the event of a strike/lockout, foreign workers may apply to have their work permits extended. The process is explained on the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship page here.

We cannot say whether an individual faculty member would support a strike or not, however, the Dal Faculty Association President has previously spoken strongly in favour of what postdocs are asking for (see here) and forcing or pressuring unionized employees who are on strike to work is illegal.

As you are a postdoctoral fellow employee, you are an employee of Dal and covered by the collective agreement (regardless of whether an external source gives Dal some of these funds or not). You have the same right as all other postdoctoral fellow employees to go on strike, but also could be locked out by the university. The additional pressure put on Dal by an external source who wants a postdoc to return to work could be useful.

Yes! If we go on strike or are locked out, there would be numerous other duties like coordination of picketing or communications that could be carried out remotely.

This is no longer relevant as the vote has now taken place and we have a strike mandate. This is being left so people can see how this occurred.

We will be holding virtual voting sessions. Under the PSAC constitution, you have to attend a session in order to vote to strike. These sessions will be held virtually, and they will explain why we are not recommending the Dalhousie Administration’s final offer, and then you will be able to ask questions or go directly to our voting page.

In order to ensure that your vote is anonymous, you must provide us with an email address that is not affiliated with Dalhousie. 

The governing legislation provides that only members in good standing have a right to vote on the employer’s final offer.  Members who haven't signed union cards are entitled to vote on the question of strike authorization. You may choose to sign a membership card, which would place you in good standing to be also able to vote on the Dalhousie Administration’s final offer.