17³Ô¹Ï Community Bulletin: 17³Ô¹Ï FA strike vote set for February 13 and 14

The following message is being distributed by 17³Ô¹Ï Communications to 17³Ô¹Ï employees and students on behalf of the University.
We understand that students and employees continue to have questions and concerns about a potential job action by 17³Ô¹Ï Faculty Association (17³Ô¹Ï FA) members and we wanted to update you as the week starts with the information available at this time.
We have learned through social media that 17³Ô¹Ï FA members will take a strike vote on Monday, February 13, and Tuesday, February 14. This does not mean there will be a strike immediately, but it is the next step in this process for the 17³Ô¹Ï FA and is necessary before job action can occur. The 17³Ô¹Ï FA’s ability to strike is based on a mandate from its members—this mandate is based on the number of members who have cast a vote, not on the total number of members.
Please be assured that the University remains committed to reaching a settlement through any avenue, including interest arbitration, with the goal of achieving a mutually beneficial agreement without labour disruption.
In the meantime, we have to prepare for the possibility of a labour disruption. Plans for university operations in the event of a strike are being finalized.
As more information becomes available for students, employees, and visitors, it will be posted on upei.ca/labour. All our past communications about the status of University-Faculty Association negotiations can be found on this site. As specific details become available, more FAQs will be added so check often for updates.
We understand that students and other members of the 17³Ô¹Ï community may be unsure about what is happening and anxious about how the winter academic semester will be affected by a potential job action. Students and employees should continue to check their official 17³Ô¹Ï email accounts for updates.
Please know that there are supports available for you at this time. If you need assistance, 17³Ô¹Ï has a number of resources for students through 17³Ô¹Ï Student Affairs, including personal counselling (studentserv@upei.ca), and the International Student Office (irostu@upei.ca). 17³Ô¹Ï faculty and staff can access resources on the on my17³Ô¹Ï while eligible employees can call the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-387-4765 for support.