The Memorial University Faculty Association is calling the resumption of clinical nursing courses a “major escalation of the labour dispute by administrators.”

MUNFA members are holding a rally today at noon, with support from picketers from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia and PEI.

Memorial University yesterday announced that it is resuming nursing courses Monday, by providing non-unionized supervision.

There were concerns among some nursing students that a prolonged strike might prevent them from graduating and getting positions in the health care system.

Sixty-nine nurses—due to graduate this spring—need the clinical placement to complete their program and begin work with local health authorities.

All clinicals were paused when MUNFA went on strike on January 30.

In a letter to members issued today, MUNFA says it is still assessing the details of the decision to resume nursing clinical courses, but says it raises serious questions about the quality of clinical training provided, and it may violate other relevant collective agreements.