The Ontario Labour Relations Board has certified Laurentian University Faculty Association to represent 35 academic staff members at Huntington University.

On Dec. 1, Huntington faculty overwhelmingly voted to form a union with LUFA. Following the election, the university raised several objections with the labour board, including challenging the composition of the bargaining unit, but all objections were later dropped.

Huntington, a liberal arts institution in Northern Ontario, is one of three smaller universities federated with Laurentian.

LUFA president Peter Simpson cheered what he called a "resounding victory" of the Huntington decision.

"Huntington's full and part-time academic staff members prevailed in their attempts to unionize," Simpson said. "This was the last non-unionized part of the Laurentian University federation. Now we're able to say that all academic staff on campus are represented."

LUFA now represents more than 500 full and part-time academic staff members and will soon be negotiating to secure a first contract for its members at Huntington.

All four of LUFA's bargaining units - Laurentian, Sudbury, Thorneloe and Huntington - will be bargaining at the same time, Simpson said.