On Nov. 8 sessional lecturers at the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières resumed their strike after eight months of failed talks and suspended job action. In January 2000 after almost a year of negotiations the lecturers voted 95 per cent in favour of a strike and walked out on Feb. 21. A week later they suspended strike action and negotiations resumed. In March, the unions that represent sessional lecturers in Quebec met at Trois-Rivières to establish an Interunion Coalition, and renew their support of colleagues in Trois-Rivières. In the intervening months the UQTR administration imposed a partial lockout of sessional lecturers teaching summer courses even though negotiations continued. Efforts at conciliation have failed, and on Aug. 23 UQTR left the bargaining table. The main issues in dispute are workload, university service and salary. The lecturers have been without a contract since June 1, 1999. The strike affects about half of all courses offered this semester. In 1996 ­ 97, part-time lecturers at the university went on strike for 40 days over monetary issues.