Make a deal today or we cancel semester for law students, McGill tells professors' union

McGill University is threatening to cancel law school classes for the remainder of the semester if it cannot reach an agreement today with a faculty union that has been on strike since August.

The university announced that it will withdraw its legal challenge to the faculty's right to unionize—a primary demand of the Association of McGill Professors of Law—if the union agrees to negotiate working conditions collectively with other employee associations at the institution.

In an email sent to law school students on Monday morning, the university stated that the union must agree to end its strike today; otherwise, courses taught by union members will be canceled starting tomorrow.

According to the university, it is not feasible for classes to commence two months into the semester and still conclude on schedule.

The McGill Law Students' Association criticized the university's offer as "nothing more than smoke and mirrors," suggesting that both McGill and the union need to demonstrate greater flexibility.

Quebec's labor tribunal certified the law professors' union in November 2022, but the union has yet to finalize its first collective agreement.