At the University of King’s College, faculty fellows and students rallied over working conditions in the Foundation Year Program (FYP).
Faculty Fellows—a small group of eight on-campus union members who handle about 70% of teaching and marking—say they face low wages and short, non-renewable contracts of about three years. While they form close bonds with first-year students, frequent turnover brings new instructors every few years.
One Faculty Fellow, Veronica Curran, says their union is now in the final phase of conciliation talks on Tuesday after months of negotiations.
Students led the rally in solidarity, concerned about losing tutors mid-term. First-year Alexandra Rose says the fellows make university “life-changing” despite rising costs.
Rose says, “I came all the way from Ontario to Kings, like people come from all over the country. And they come because these people are experts at what they do, and they’re the only ones who dedicate their time to doing this program where you move through all of history. And it’s expensive to do university and it’s getting harder and harder, but the teachers actually make it worth it.”
Rally organizer Mia Colle pointed to disruptions like delayed feedback when tutors leave. One Faculty Fellow, Veronica Curran, added: “These are often the teaching staff who make the closest bonds with first-year students who often are cited as the reason students want to study at King’s, they’re not given permanent positions.”
Curran said fellows earn the lowest pay among full-time faculty in Atlantic Canada and are seeking contract renewals, fair wages, and capped class sizes. She recalled a student speech:
“Just to give you an example. One student said that during the student strike while they were not attending classes they were keeping up with their readings and they realized in that moment that the foundation year program is not about the texts, but it is the fellows, the teachers. It would not be foundation year program without fellows. And it was very touching to hear that because we we really pour our hearts and souls into this job, and we love the students as well.”
Students and fellows say the rally is key to protecting the program’s close-knit structure, but if an agreement isn’t made, the strike could happen as soon as Wednesday.
Comments