Classes for medical learners on pause as Memorial University faculty go on strike

Medical and pharmacy students at Memorial University have had some classes paused indefinitely as members of the Memorial University Faculty Association (MUNFA) took to the picket line on Jan. 30 as part of labour action. More than 800 faculty members across the University’s campuses in St. John’s and Corner Brook, N.L. went on strike after negotiations with the university’s administration broke down. The faculty have been without a collective agreement since Aug. 31, 2023. Components of Memorial University’s undergraduate medical program are delivered by faculty who are members of MUNFA, but the majority of the program is taught by clinical faculty and instructors who are not part of that union. Courses taught by MUNFA members such as biochemistry and epidemiology have been paused due to the labour action. The faculty of medicine told the Medical Post that if the strike lasts two weeks, 11 hours of programming will be affected, over the full four-year MD program. Medical students have been given self-directed learning time for that 11 hours, and classes and sessions missed due to strike action will be rescheduled once normal operations resume. “Instruction in the MD program will otherwise continue as previously scheduled, without changes to the timing, location or method of delivery,” the faculty said in an email. The faculty of medicine said that postgraduate medical education was unlikely to be disrupted due to the strike. Read: N.L. moves to end private ambulance strike with bill declaring services essential School of pharmacy students have multiple courses such as pharmacotherapy, pharmacokinetics and neuropsychopharmacology paused for the duration of the strike. Students are asked to check with the school of pharmacy to learn if courses are running. “About 15% of our courses are continuing during the strike,” the school of pharmacy said in an email to Pharmacy Practice + Business. “The majority of our Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience rotations are continuing, thanks to the supervision of community and hospital pharmacists throughout the province.” The three courses taught by instructors who are not members of MUNFA will continue and be delivered remotely. “Given that some classes are continuing, most students are able to continue some of their learning, but as the strike continues there will be more learning that needs to be made up,” the school of pharmacy wrote. “However, when the strike is resolved, Memorial will do everything in its power to ensure students are able to complete their semester.” Memorial University provided tips for safely crossing the picket line. It included reminders to recognize stress levels are high for everyone and to respect the picketers’ right to slow pedestrian and car traffic crossing the picket line. MUNFA is asking for more input into university governance, improved job security for contract employees and a wage increase. The labour action is one of several in Atlantic universities. Cape Breton University faculty are also currently on strike as of Jan. 27. Faculty at St. Mary’s University in Halifax have set a strike date of Feb. 24 if no agreement is reached with administration. Dalhousie University Faculty Association voted for strike action but an agreement was reached in late December before the January strike date. Last February faculty at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., staged a four-week-long strike which ended in binding arbitration. The faculty association’s collective agreement was finalized in October 2022. Read: Canadian med schools add seats tailored to attract future FPs while family medicine residency spots go unfilled

Classes for medical learners on pause as Memorial University faculty go on strike

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