Capilano University full-scale strike cancels all classes

All classes at Capilano University have been canceled due to a full-scale strike by the institution’s instructors.

The cancellations began this morning for all three campuses at North Vancouver, Squamish and the Sunshine Coast. Approximately 7,000 students are affected by the labour dispute.

At this time, final exams are still scheduled to proceed as planned, beginning on April 13. However, the remaining three days of sessions during this semester have been canceled.

A strike notice was first issued last week when discussions broke down between the union and the university administration over the institution’s ability to dismiss instructors and cancel courses.

The union had originally stated that faculty members would continue their roles in teaching, marking, supervising projects, practicums, field studies and conducting exams. But instructors would not provide students or the university with the marks and grades of students until a deal has been reached.

Since February, the Capilano University Faculty Association has been seeking more authority over the regulation of instructor employment, however, the administration has argued that this would interfere with the institution’s ability to manage its own finances.

Both sides have already agreed on the provincial government’s mandated wage increase of 5.5 per cent over a five year term.

There is no timeline for when the strike could end.