Mount Allison cancels Monday classes as strike looms

Full-time professors and librarians at Mount Allison University in Sackville are set to strike after negotiations between the university and faculty association broke off late Sunday.

The university had announced to students earlier in the day it was cancelling classes, labsand tutorialson Monday.

"We appreciate the ongoing bargaining process is causing uncertainty," wroteRobert Hiscock, the university's director ofmarketing and communications.

By late Sunday afternoon, a post onthe university's website said that a revised offer was made to the faculty's bargaining team. But the bargaining team recommended the offer be rejected.

Matt Litvak, the faculty association's president, said the association was provided with a take-it-or-leave-it offer and was toldthat the university would only consider tweaks.

"It is clear by their actions that they may be willing to meet but not willing to negotiate," he wrote in an email.

Both sides say the are willing to negotiate. The university said its team was prepared to talk before the strike is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday.

The faculty association says its top issue is the number of faculty members there are to deliver programs.