Memorial University says a strike by its faculty would be devastating.

MUNFA has set January 30th as their strike deadline with a last-ditch conciliation effort set for next week.

Salary is the big issue but there are three other stumbling blocks at play: pension benefits, the status of contractual positions and university governance. MUNFA has never had a seat on the Senate despite obviously being a key player in university life.

Neil Bose, provost and vice-president (academic) of Memorial University, says courses taught by MUNFA members would not go ahead in the event of a strike but some other courses would.

Courses under the domain of the Lecturers’ Union could still go ahead.

Lucien Ashworth, a member of the MUNFA Executive Committee and a professor at MUN, says a strike is still avoidable.

He says they’re waiting for the administration to come forth with a reasonable set of counter proposals. MUNFA hopes that the strong support from students will help get them over the line.