CBC Prince Edward Island - Classes resume at UPEI after deal approved

Students and professors at the University of PEI returned to class Thursday after a bitter two-week strike ended with both sides approving a new agreement.

More than 95 per cent of faculty members voted in favour of the five-year agreement on Wednesday. They had asked for their wages, workload and benefits to be brought into line with that of other universities in the region. Faculty members cheered wildly when they heard contract details.

Wayne Peters, president of the UPEI Faculty Association, said he is relieved that the strike is over and he is pleased with its outcome. "It's just incredible what we've been able to accomplish here in the last few weeks. It's nothing short of incredible," Peters told the Charlottetown Guardian. "We're not going to be the top paid university in the region in five years. We never went into this looking for that. We're certainly not going to be the lowest either."

The strike had students worried about losing the academic term.