The Association of Professors of Bishop's University set a strike deadline for 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 15, after 10 months of negotiations for its full-time and part-time bargaining units. In February, members of both units voted more than 86 per cent in favour of authorizing a strike if necessary.

Major unresolved issues in the dispute are pensions, salaries, and complement.

Talks broke down in December when the university withdrew its package from the table and replaced it with one worse than its starting offer. The association filed for conciliation and launched a series of job actions including refusing to fill out administrative forms, withdrawal from committees and suspension of administrative duties.

The provincial conciliator restarted negotiations but major differences remain on the key issues.