An upcoming strike vote by faculty has led St. Thomas University in Fredericton to push back the starting date of classes after the holidays.

A strike vote is looming at St. Thomas University, where faculty are demanding increased wages, more office space and a reduced workload.
(CBC)

The union representing the faculty at the university has called for a strike vote on Jan. 7-8 after nine months of contract negotiations broke down last week.

The school has responded by delaying the start of the second term from Jan. 3 to Jan. 9, allowing some extra time for potential negotiations.

The faculty at the liberal arts institution is asking for increased wages, more office space and a reduced workload.

The union says the average full professor's salary of $103,000 is the second-lowest among professors in Atlantic Canada.

According to the university's website, the faculty has been offered a reduced teaching load and a 2.5 per cent raise every year for the next three years.

The university said if that offer was accepted, the new contract would cost the institution an additional $1.4 million that year.

Student union president Colin Banks says he is concerned the new contract is going to mean increased tuition fees for students.
(CBC)

The university's decision to post the offer on the school's website was in direct violation of the collective agreement, said Suzanne Dudziak, union director.

"If they're willing to take that material down and are willing to act in good faith, then we're very happy to continue," Dudziak said.

But university spokesman Jeffery Carleton said students and the public have a right to know what's going on and what's at stake.

"We've had negotiations ongoing since February," Carleton said. "We've had a hundred hours at the table. We're ready to return to the table at any time with no preconditions. It's in the best interest of the students that we get an agreement done as quickly as possible."

Colin Banks, president of the student union that represents more than 2,600 students, said he is concerned any deal that is reached is going to be on the backs of the people paying tuition.

"Any increase that happens, any reduction in teaching load, anything along those lines. It's going to be in direct correlation to what students pay in their yearly tuition and … that's worrisome," Banks said.