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Dear students:
As you heard from President Michael Benarroch last night, joint efforts of the University of Manitoba and the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) to reach an agreement by November 1st on terms for a new collective bargaining agreement have been unsuccessful. As a result, UMFA has commenced strike action beginning today, Tuesday, November 2nd.
We realize this causes disruption for you. We will take every reasonable measure to support you through this time, including maintaining instruction for courses not being taught by UMFA members, and providing access to core services and resources.
We will share as much information with you as possible as it becomes available - via email, website and our social media accounts.
Answers to many of your questions, including those of you with specific circumstances, such as international or graduate students and students in your final year of study, can be found on this website<https://umanitoba.ca/strike-information/>.
>From the website, you can also access a list of continuing courses<https://umanitoba.ca/registrar/continuing-courses> to see if your classes (in-person or remote delivery) are taking place. Remember that not all courses are taught by UMFA faculty members and not all UMFA members will necessarily strike. As a result, this page will change often as details are updated so please check back regularly.
If a course is taught by an UMFA member who is on strike, your access to that course on UM Learn, and the associated learning materials, will be suspended.
UM respects our faculty. They are important members of the campus community and core to the student experience and our academic mission. I understand this strike action is concerning and we want to remind you that supports<https://umanitoba.ca/student-supports> are available. Please use these resources if you need to - your safety and well-being are our top priorities.
The university is committed to reaching an agreement promptly to ensure your studies continue with as little disruption as possible. I will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
All my best,
Laurie Schnarr
Laurie M. Schnarr, MA (she/her)
Vice-Provost (Students)
Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
University of Manitoba
208 Administration Building
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Tel: 204.474.6919
Confidential Assistant - Marci Davies Marci.Davies(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:Marcia.Davies@umanitoba.ca>: 204.474.6917
Student Affairs: Creating opportunities for student success!
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UM presented UMFA with a strong offer that included a two-year monetary proposal with both general salary increases across the board and changes to the salary structure that would increase salaries an average of 9.5% over two years and substantially increase lifetime earnings of members. UMFA has rejected the offer and indicated its intention to strike.
UM and UMFA representatives began negotiating a new collective agreement on Aug. 5 – and after 18 meetings, both parties agreed to move to mediation. UMFA set a bargaining deadline and mediation ended today without an agreement. UM is willing to continue with mediation, however UMFA has indicated that it will proceed with a strike on Nov. 2.
"We are disappointed that UMFA has rejected our offer and moved to strike," says President and Vice-Chancellor, Michael Benarroch. "We strongly believe it's a fair deal as it would allow us to recruit new faculty with more competitive offers, support faculty retention, and ensure faculty wages remain competitive with their U15 counterparts as they advance in their careers. We hope to be back at the table soon."
Throughout the negotiations, UMFA has continued to seek salary compensation from the university for what UMFA says was lost from 2016 to 2020. As part of a lawsuit against the government, UMFA is seeking damages for lost wages for that period and expenses from the 2016 strike. UM is not part of that litigation. The courts will hear UMFA's claim in November 2021 and decide on damages payable to UMFA by the government. UM does not believe it is appropriate for UMFA to seek this compensation from both the university and the government.
"The university has bargained in good faith throughout the last few months and has tabled several offers, all in an attempt to reach an agreement," says Provost and Vice-President Academic, Diane Hiebert-Murphy. "Our latest offer is truly a strong offer that will provide meaningful increases to all UMFA members in the long term, as well as address recruitment and retention issues and provide for stability to the university community."
Students and staff can find information pertaining to university operations on the strike website<https://umanitoba.ca/strike-information/> which will be updated daily throughout the labour disruption.
Read more on UM Today<https://news.umanitoba.ca/umfa-rejects-ums-latest-offer-and-moves-to-strike/>.
