If they get into power, party leaders talk about whether they would use “back-to-work” laws
Since University of Prince Edward Island faculty are on strike in the middle of a provincial election campaign, one thing is for sure: they can’t be made to go back to work in the next few weeks to get legislation passed.
Their union wants a promise that things won’t change if their members are still on strike after the April 3 election.
“What we’re asking of whoever forms the next government is, ‘Don’t step in and make us work again,'” The head of the UPEI Faculty Association, Mike Arfken, said on Tuesday.
“That’s what our boss is waiting for, and if they know that’s coming up, they’ll never come to the table. So, say something now, say something soon, and make it clear that won’t happen.”
Talks or a judge’s decision
After nearly a year of failed talks with university managers about a new collective agreement, faculty at the Charlottetown campus went on strike on Monday.
The faculty association has asked for more face-to-face meetings so that talks can continue.
UPEI has said no and has instead suggested that the faculty agree to go back to work while a third-party arbitrator is chosen to settle all of the problems.
“Because the province is in the middle of an election, we can only start a period of interest arbitration if both sides agree,” said Greg Naterer, UPEI’s vice-president of academic and research. “If this didn’t happen during an election, the legislature could meet to make this happen. But since we’re in the middle of an election, that wouldn’t.”
‘A last resort’ 
Naterer shot down the union’s claim that UPEI is dragging its feet in the hopes that the new government will force faculty members back to work and make binding arbitration happen.
Dennis King, the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, told CBC News on Tuesday that he wouldn’t rule that out if his party is re-elected and teachers are still on strike.
I don’t think that’s ever a good idea.— Dennis King, leader of the PCs, on putting strikers back to work by law
“I don’t think that’s ever a good idea,” he said.”It wouldn’t be the first time I took charge, of course. I mean, I’ve already said that I have a lot of respect for the process of collective bargaining.”
“I think we would look at everything,” said Sharon Cameron, the leader of the Liberals. “They have to keep talking, negotiate in good faith, and believe that both sides will do their jobs. So, you want to avoid any of these serious actions and keep the conversation going.” ‘
‘We would not legislate
On the other hand, Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker and NDP Leader Michelle Neill spoke out strongly against back-to-work laws.
Bevan-Baker said, “Absolutely, we would not force these people back to work through the law.” “This is a tough situation, but the government needs to back off and let things happen as they should.”
“I don’t think the government should directly get in the way of collective bargaining,” said Neill. “That’s something that’s very important to me. I’ve been in a union for a very long time, and I think that’s a very sacred thing between union members and their employers.”
Most UPEI students had their final exams less than a month after the strike started. At this point, the university hasn’t said if the semester could be extended so that missed classes could be made up.
During the strike, non-faculty staff, students, and people from the community will still be able to use campus buildings.
The faculty association has said that its members will be kind to people who need to cross their picket lines.