University of Manitoba faculty, administration reach tentative, 4-year deal

The University of Manitoba Faculty Association and the university's administration have reached a tentative, four-year agreement.

The deal, announced Thursday, will go to a vote by UMFA's membership before taking effect.

The tentative deal comes with a recommendation to pass by the union's leadership, the University of Manitoba Students' Union said in a news release. UMSU is urging both parties to seal the deal before the university reaches the class-withdrawal and fee-refund deadline in September. 

The first three years of the deal would see wage increases of 0 per cent, .75 per cent and 1 per cent, as mandated by the Public Services Sustainability Act, which has yet to be proclaimed, UMFA president Janet Morrill said in a news release.

"UMFA's position is that these terms were not freely bargained, and the Association is participating in a legal challenge of the constitutionality of the PSSA.

"Interference from the government significantly hampered our negotiations," she added. "The constitutional implications of what the government has done shouldn't be taken lightly."

Salary negotiations will commence in the fourth year, Morrill said.

Last November, the UMFA walked out for 21 days. The strike "left over 80 per cent of students at the University of Manitoba facing uncertainty about finishing their fall semester classes," UMSU said.

UMFA, which represents professors, instructors and librarians, went on strike over workload protections, job security and protections against performance indicators.

The union and administration reached a one-year deal in 2016.