University of Manitoba faculty set to strike Oct. 22

The University of Manitoba faculty has set a strike date of Oct. 22.

Negotiations between the University of Manitoba Faculty Association and the university broke down last week, resulting in the faculty voting in favour of taking strike action. No strike date was set until late Tuesday afternoon.

The union said it would strike on Oct. 22 if a deal was not met by midnight on Oct. 21.

If an agreement is not made before the deadline, more than 1,200 faculty members at the university’s Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses could walk off the job.

The union has refused to comment publicly on what the sticking points are in negotiations, saying in a release, "the faculty association will not be bargaining in public by providing information on the bargaining positions taken by the two sides."

Province appoints conciliator

Over the weekend, the university requested the province appoint a conciliator to try and mediate between the two groups.

“The university and the faculty association had reached an impasse in their negotiations,” said John Danakas, a spokesperson for the university. “A conciliator is one step that can be utilized to help bring the parties to an agreement.”

A meeting between the two sides was scheduled for Wednesday, and talks are expected to continue through the week and weekend.

The faculty association said it has also proposed using the services of a mediator and is waiting to hear back from the university's administration on the issue. The union also said it would be available Friday, Saturday and Monday to continue negotiations.

The university has not yet said how a strike would affect the institution's 29,000 students, should it happen, but Danakas did say the university will keep students informed about any developments through email.