The strike by faculty at the University of New Brunswick is poised to move into its third week and students affected by the strike are taking a stand.
Juliana Zanatta says she should be studying for nursing exams but instead she spent Thursday making signs for a student rally planned for Friday.
She is worried the labour disruption could keep her from graduating on time.
“It would mean we can’t write our CRNE (Canadian Registered Nurse Examination). We can’t graduate on time, and the next time to write our CRNE, if graduation is postponed, is October,” says Zanatta.
UNB’s student union has remained neutral over the two-week strike but, with no end to the dispute in sight, the student union is now demanding both sides resume negotiations.
“The idea of even compressing a semester right now, of trying to, say, do all the work we normally would have done in, say, a month less is pretty tough,” says student union president Ben Whitney.
“The course loads are already tough, and so the prospect is pretty scary for students.”
The union representing the teachers says it is willing to return to the negotiating table at any time and welcomes the students to voice their concerns.
“The students have a significant voice with both parties, so I think it will be, it’s very useful and possibly, that will help tip the balance,” says Miriam Jones, president of the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers.
The university says it remains open to resuming talks, but no negotiations are scheduled at this point.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
