The University of Manitoba apologizes to UMFA members; will pay maximum remedy

The University of Manitoba accepts the decision of the Manitoba Labour Board.

We recognize that we should have communicated the government’s salary mandate sooner in the 2016 negotiations with UMFA.

At that time, the University believed it was acting in the best interests of both UMFA members and the institution by continuing the dialogue with government.

We understand now that that decision was wrong, and for that we apologize to UMFA and UMFA members.

The University deeply values the contributions of faculty members and will make a remedy payment for its error in judgement. While the Manitoba Labour Board had felt a negotiation would be necessary for the University and UMFA to agree on an amount, the University is prepared to pay each affected UMFA member the maximum amount as identified by the Board, $2,000; they will receive a direct communication conveying the apology and details of the payment from the president’s office.

The University will also pay UMFA $2,000 in accordance with the Manitoba Labour Board ruling.

We hope that we can move forward from this situation in a more constructive and collaborative manner, and trust that the four-year collective agreement reached with UMFA last year is a demonstration of our improved relationship.

We thank faculty members for their continued dedication to the core mission of this university, in teaching, research and community engagement.