St. Francis Xavier University’s academic staff union called a strike vote last month in response to what the union says are untenable proposals by the university administration during contract negotiations.

StFXAUT, which represents about 400 academic staff at the university, announced Dec. 10 that it had secured 82% majority on a 78% turnout for the strike vote.

StFXAUT president David Lynes said talks between the union and the employer reached an impasse late in November “when it became clear the employer not only refused to table a financial offer based on parity, but wanted major concessions that would erode working conditions and benefits, as well as weaken academic freedom and tenure.”

The previous agreement expired in June 2009.