The Association of Professors of Bishop’s University held an extraordinary general membership meeting last month in response to a pattern of unusual employer demands in a set of negotiations underway for contracts for the three bargaining units represented by APBU.

Bishop’s full-time academic staff, contract academic staff and general staff voted unanimously Nov. 20 to authorize a strike vote. A meeting is scheduled this month to update members on negotiations. At this meeting members will vote on whether to strike, said APBU president Ginny Stroeher.

The collective agreement for full-time and contract academic staff expired in June 2006. General staff received their certificate in July 2005 and have been bargaining for a first contract ever since.

In 2004 APBU members were on strike for seven days before a tentative agreement was reached.