Faculty members at the University of Sudbury in Northern Ontario voted overwhelmingly in favour of union representation in a December vote conducted by the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

Laurentian University Faculty Association sought Labour Board certification as bargaining agent for more than 30 full and part-time teachers and professional librarians at the undergraduate liberal arts institution, one of three smaller universities federated with Laurentian University.

Peter Simpson, the faculty association representative responsible for the organizing drive and the Labour Board proceedings, noted the university administration's opposition to the union. "But, after weathering employer dispute over the manner of polling employees, and managing delay caused by inclement weather, 85 per cent of voters supported the union in the polls conducted Dec. 5 and 6," he said. "The union successfully argued for an immediate count of the ballots."

Simpson said after the balloting, the university continued to challenge the conduct of the vote. However, the board rejected employer arguments in a decision released earlier this month and has now issued its certificate authorizing LUFA to start collective bargaining.

Simpson says the union will enforce faculty members' rights under the Labour Relations Act throughout first contract negotiations.