UMFA-UM officially enter bargaining period
The University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) and the University of Manitoba officially entered into their bargaining period on Jan. 28. UMFA represents 1,250 full-time professors, lecturers, instructors, and academic librarians. UMFA’s collective agreement expires Mar. 31, 2016.
Detailed talks are hoped to begin earlier this time than in previous bargaining periods. Greg Juliano, associate vice-president (human resources), who will also serve as chief negotiator for the University of Manitoba, welcomes the early start.
“The university has just successfully completed new collective agreements with two bargaining groups, representing support staff and sessional instructors. We look forward now to an equally productive process with the faculty association,” says Juliano. “Faculty are at the very core of the university’s important work in teaching, discovery and outreach. We all recognize that these talks can sometimes be challenging, so starting early should offer a better opportunity for resolving issues and collaborating on how to best address the needs of the entire university community.”
The U of M has set out Bargaining Principles for the process.
The University of Manitoba will seek a bargaining process and result that:
1. Provides stability for students through the timely conclusion of a multi-year agreement
2. Places our core mission of teaching, research, and service at the forefront
3. Advances the University’s Strategic Plan
4. Fosters a collegial and respectful environment where the contributions of all our employees are valued
5. Contributes to financial sustainability and allows responsiveness in a changing fiscal environment
6. Respects the collegial, bi-cameral governance system of the University as provided for in The University of Manitoba Act
7. Encourages collaboration between bargaining teams to solve issues of concern
The University of Manitoba bargaining team consists of:
- Gregory Juliano, Associate Vice-President (Human Resources), Chief Negotiator
- Lisa Halket, Director, Staff Relations
- Janice Ristock, Vice-Provost (Academic Affairs)
- Douglas Brown, Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
- Beverly O’Connell, Dean, College of Nursing
- Mary-Jo Romaniuk, University Librarian
- Bev Lockie, Staff Relations Officer, Staff Relations
The UMFA bargaining team has yet to be announced.
CUPE Unit 2 and the U of M successfully reached an agreement ratified by CUPE members on Jan. 7 that included increases over three years. A successful agreement that included general salary increases was reached in Dec. 2015 between the Association of Employees Supporting Education Services (AESES) and the U of M, using a collaborative approach to negotiation referred to as interest-based bargaining. 91 per cent of AESES members who voted on Dec. 9 elected to accept the agreement.
Updates for the UMFA-UM negotiation will be published through UM Today and at the human resources-staff relations website on the Bargaining Updates page.
>Read the Bargaining Q +A with chief negotiator for the University of Manitoba, Greg Juliano.