September 2, 2025 – KJIPUKTUK (Halifax) – The Association of Nova Scotia University Teachers (ANSUT) is calling on Université Sainte-Anne’s administration to respect its signed commitments and return to the bargaining table with the Association des professeurs, professeures et bibliothécaires de l’Université Sainte-Anne (APPBUSA).
APPBUSA began negotiating with their employer in good faith in November 2024. In January 2025, both parties signed an agreement affirming collegial governance. Despite this, Université Sainte-Anne’s administration is now attempting to impose new conditions during negotiations and refuses to honor the signed governance agreement. With bargaining at a standstill, APPBUSA has filed a complaint for failure to bargain.
“Faculty and librarians at Université Sainte-Anne are an invaluable part of Nova Scotia’s post-secondary sector,” says Mathew Reichertz, ANSUT president. “They deserve fair treatment, respect for agreements already made, and meaningful engagement at the bargaining table.”
ANSUT is urging members, allies, and the broader public to demonstrate their support before the Université Sainte-Anne Board of Governors meets on September 20, 2025. A coordinated effort is underway to call on the administration to return to good-faith bargaining. “APPBUSA may be small in number, but their contributions are vital to the university and the communities it serves,” says Reichertz. “Faculty and unionized workers from across NS stand with them in this fight for a fair deal.”
ANSUT encourages those who want to help the APPBUSA to visit https://appbusa.ca/2025/08/28/letter-writing-campaign-academic-staff-at-universite-sainte-anne-deserve-a-fair-deal/ and follow the links to send a letter to Université Sainte-Anne’s administration through the online campaign portal. Over 175 letters have been sent to the Board in just one week.
“APPBUSA members should not have to fight to ensure agreements are respected,” says Reichertz. “When one university administration fails to bargain fairly, it sends a chilling message across Nova Scotia’s post-secondary sector. We cannot allow this to become the norm. Standing with APPBUSA means standing up for fairness and academic integrity everywhere.”