I hope you had a restful and productive break and are ready to tackle the remainder of the Winter term with your usual commitment and determination.  

We are receiving some questions from students about the bargaining process currently underway with UMFA, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty Association, that I would like to address. The university has met with UMFA twenty-nine times since the Summer term and continues to bargain in good faith, with the intention of concluding a collective agreement without a labour disruption. The university remains committed to a fair deal for UMFA and to ensuring an outstanding teaching and learning experience for students. Please be assured that the university remains open, and all classes and activities are continuing as usual.  

I encourage you to visit UM’s Labour Relations website, where the university’s new package proposal, including a strengthened monetary offer, is posted. We will continue to provide bargaining updates on that website until a new collective agreement is reached. If there are any developments that specifically affect students, we will connect with you directly.  

As you ease back into the term, I also wanted to highlight some activities taking place over the coming week. Be sure to check out the events calendar for more happenings throughout the term: 

• Pet Therapy!! – On Tuesday February 25 head to the Student Wellness Centre, 162 Extended Education Complex, between 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for some cuddles with canines! 

• On Wednesday, February 26 participate in the Spiritual Care – UM Drum Circles: Winter Wellness Series from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in 521 UMSU University Centre 

• Cheer on the Bisons Women’s Volleyball team during their playoffs! Best of three starts on Thursday February 27.  

• On Friday, February 28 support the UM Food Bank while enjoying local talent at the “Rocking with a Cause” concert. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the performance starts at 6 p.m. 

An International graduate student townhall is scheduled for Friday, February 28, 10 to 11:30 a.m. in 544/543 UMSU University Centre. Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, representatives from the International Centre, the UM Graduate Students Association, and I will be in attendance to discuss topics of relevance to International graduate students, including off campus working hours, the family open work permit, eligibility for the post-graduation work permit, and Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs). In-person registration is now full but participation via Zoom remains available to those interested in attending. Please register here.  

Looking ahead to the next month, March 3-7 is Student Success Week, which is designed to help you maintain momentum, stay on course, and finish the Winter term successfully. Drop by info tables in the Fireside Lounge in University Centre and participate in a variety of workshops and events facilitated by the Academic Learning Centre and campus partners. Learn more and see a list of programming online. 

An important feature of Student Success Week is Procrastination Awareness Week (PAW), a national campaign that the University of Manitoba co-hosts each year with academic institutions from across Canada. In addition to both live and pre-recorded workshops, PAW includes a virtual study hall, resource library, and opportunities to socialize with students from across all participating institutions. Check out the free online workshops, presentations, and events and register online. 

UMSU’s 106^th birthday celebrations are kicking off on Monday, March 10, followed by a fun week of events and activities, concluding with the UMSU Street Party on Friday, March 14. Keep an eye on instagram.com/myumsu for details. 

As you navigate the rest of the Winter term, remember that there are many resources and student supports available to you. Be sure to check them out. 

Take good care. 

…Laurie 

You are encouraged to attend one of four 90-minute town halls to share your views. Your participation is important because your feedback and suggestions will inform the committee’s report and recommendations on the future of technology, teaching and learning at our university.

The town halls will be specifically seeking answers to the following questions:

• Question one: What is your experience with online (DE), hybrid, or blended forms of course delivery modes at UM and what have the impacts been for your teaching, research and service?
• Question two: What are your concerns about any future teaching or learning using online, blended, distance and hybrid modes of delivery?
• Question three: On what criteria and through what process should decisions about mode of delivery be made at UM?
• Question four: If you were to teach using one of these delivery modes, what supports would you want to see in place?

Town hall schedule

Fort Garry

Thursday, November 17, 2022
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
EITC E3 262 (Senate Chambers)
Engineering and Information Technology Complex
75 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6

Monday, November 21, 2022
1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
EITC E3 262 (Senate Chambers)
Engineering and Information Technology Complex
75 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6

Bannatyne

Friday, November 25, 2022
12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Basic Medical Sciences Building, Theatre C
745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2

Online

Tuesday, November 22, 2022
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Zoom – please register here for this session

If you are unable to attend a town hall, responses to the questions can be submitted to digital.teach@umanitoba.ca by November 25, 2022.

The Joint University/UMFA Anomalies Committee will consider applications to correct anomalies in base salaries of UMFA Members.  The University/UMFA collective agreement establishes a fund of $100,000 to correct anomalies in base salaries for each contract year. In this round, the joint committee will consider applications for both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 contract years. Members of UMFA as of March 31, 2021 are eligible to apply using the 2021 form, and members of UMFA as of March 31, 2022 are eligible to apply using the 2022 form. Applicants should apply using the form for the earliest year in which an anomaly can be established. The committee reserves the right to move an application to a different year. Salary adjustments will normally be made retroactive to April 1 of the year of application and will become part of base salary going forward.

A salary anomaly is interpreted to mean a salary that is at variance with normal salary ranges of department, faculty/school, or library colleagues having comparable experience, rank, and qualifications. Anomaly adjustments are not intended to deal with merit, general market conditions in a discipline, retention issues, altering past decisions about denial of satisfactory performance increments, or slower progress in promotion than a peer.

The joint committee will consider applications from individual UMFA Members. The committee will also consider applications sent on behalf of Members by their Department Head or Dean/Director. The Member’s Dean/Director will be asked to comment on the application, and to provide any further information the committee may require, such as the names of comparable peers, details of any inequity at hiring, or relevant prior experience. In arriving at a final decision, the committee considers the information contained in the application, the comments of the Dean/Director, as well as its own independent analysis of salaries within a unit. The decisions of the committee are final and binding.

The committee reserves the right to award adjustments where anomalies are identified through the work of the committee. However, the committee will not be undertaking a comprehensive review of all UMFA salaries.

Salary data on UMFA Members, including rank, years in rank, department, and other relevant criteria, can be reviewed by sending a request to the UMFA office between the dates of August 15 and September 9, 2022. Please email UMFA at iceplis@umfa.ca using Subject: Anomalies2022. Members will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Further information and application forms can be found on the UMFA Anomalies Fund UM Intranet page.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 4:00 p.m., Friday, September 16, 2022.

If you have questions, please call Afrakoma Amponsah at 431-277-6226, or send email to Afrakoma.Amponsah@umanitoba.ca

It is anticipated that decisions regarding anomalies adjustments will be announced in December 2022.

Dr. Peter Blunden, Chair
Joint University/UMFA Anomalies Committee

President and Vice-Chancellor, Michael Benarroch shared the following response:

“The university fully respects and supports Mr. Kaplan’s decisions and thanks him for his ruling.

I agree with recent comments from UMFA president Orvie Dingwall that we need to provide stability for students and rebuild the relationship between the union and administration.

We have an opportunity now to reflect on our negotiation process. As we move forward, we must commit to communicate openly, listen to one other, and engage in respectful dialogue.

I am deeply committed to this and will work with UMFA and university leadership to provide the outstanding work and learning environment that our faculty, staff and students deserve.

UM is Manitoba’s research-intensive university, and I am pleased to see that this ruling brings UM more in line with the 25^th percentile of the U15. This will make us more competitive as we support the economic, cultural and social success of our province and its people.”

In a binding interest arbitration, both parties have agreed to put these outstanding issues to a neutral, third-party arbitrator, who will review each party’s positions and make a final decision that will be binding on both parties. The arbitrator’s decision is made independently and will be informed by the parties’ submissions and legal principles.  

The arbitration proceedings take place on March 11 to 13 at 8:30 a.m. and can be viewed here.

Please note that recording of either or both of the audio or video of this hearing is strictly prohibited. All forms of Zoom recording have been disabled.

Over the past few weeks, we shared four adjusted academic schedules with you that were established as a result of time lost during the labour disruption. I am now confirming with you the final dates that were passed today in Senate, the academic governing body of the university. These are the dates that we will be using for the remainder of Fall Term 2021 and for Winter Term 2022.

I am very pleased to announce that adjustments have been made to the previously released academic schedule to allow for a full Winter Term Break (Reading Week) during the initially scheduled time of February 22 to 25, 2022. Specifically, the length of the Winter Term exam period was compressed and those exams are now restricted to a maximum of 2 hours. We know this time is important to you, and I hope that you will find the Winter Term Break restorative.

As communicated previously, there will be no classes or exams held during the university closure that is scheduled for December 24, 2021, through January 4, 2022.

Confirmed academic schedule modifications

Below are key Fall and Winter Term dates approved by Senate today. Please visit the important dates website for all relevant dates, including the registration period and dates for graduating students.

Key dates include:

I appreciate your patience and understanding as we aim to get the academic year back on track. I encourage you to visit the strike website for answers to many frequently asked questions and the post-strike support website for strategies and resources to help you transition back to post-strike learning. For any other questions you may have related to the strike, please email strikeum@umanitoba.ca.

My best,

Laurie

The work of our faculty matters. It improves health outcomes and quality of life for people around the world. It drives the economic, social and cultural success of our province. And most importantly, it supports the educations and futures of each of our students. Our community is aligned in our commitment to the university’s mission and vision, and now is our time to advance that important work together.

This has been a very challenging time for our entire community. I regret the impact of the labour disruption on our students and recognize there is a great deal of work ahead in setting the academic year back on course. We now have an opportunity to learn from this experience and recommit to the exceptional work and learning environment to which we all aspire. 

Thank you to the many faculty, staff and students who have reached out to me. I, our Board of Governors, and everyone on our executive team have heard your voices and greatly value your opinions and diverse perspectives.

The path ahead will not be easy. As we move forward, we must commit to communicate openly, listen to one other, and engage in respectful dialogue to better address the challenges before us. I think it is important to reflect on our negotiation process and ensure that our approach to bargaining is meeting our shared needs.

Right now, our priority is welcoming everyone back and ensuring our community is well-supported through this transition.

We thrive in community; we support one another, and we learn from each other. We still have much more to accomplish, and I am grateful we will be coming back together to continue our institution’s life-changing work.

More detailed information about classes, exams and student support services will be emailed directly to students.

The negotiating teams made progress on key issues, resulting in a tentative agreement that the UMFA Executive is recommending their members ratify. Classes are expected to resume Tuesday, December 7 if the agreement is ratified.

The University Bargaining Team expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the mediator, Arne Peltz, and to UMFA for working together to find a solution.

“This has been a very challenging period for our entire community and it is time to move forward. We are aligned in our commitment to the mission and vision of Manitoba’s research university and to creating an exceptional work and learning environment. To our students, this has been especially hard on you. As we resume classes and interrupted research, we are committed to providing you with the support you need during this transition,” said Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor.

“I know this strike has impacted you personally and affected your perceptions of our institution. We are committed to providing a rapid transition back to class so that you can successfully complete the academic year.”

More detailed information about classes, exams and student support services will be emailed directly to students today.

The university has agreed to accept the mediator’s recommendation.  

University of Manitoba-UMFA Collective Bargaining Mediation

Mediator’s final recommendation to the parties – Thursday November 25/21

1. On Sunday November 21, 2021, after 28 days of mediation, I advised the parties as follows:

There is no likelihood that the parties will reach a settlement of outstanding differences without a protracted continuing strike.  Such an ongoing work stoppage is detrimental to the parties, their relationship, the student body and the community as a whole.  I therefore recommend that all outstanding differences be remitted by the parties to voluntary, binding, independent interest arbitration … 

2. The University accepted this recommendation.  UMFA did not.  Mediation continued.  However, my persistent efforts over the past four days have been unsuccessful.  The parties remain far apart.  I therefore reiterate my recommendation that all outstanding differences be referred to binding interest arbitration.

3. Interest arbitration is a recognized component of the collective bargaining process.  It can resolve disputes where the parties are simply unable to reach an agreement on their own.  It can be especially useful where there are innocent third parties seriously impacted by a strike – here students. 

4. In this case, there are both monetary and operational issues outstanding.  Based on intensive discussion with the parties, I have drafted a customized arbitration referral which in my view is suited to the issues and will be fair to both parties, as follows.

(i) The parties will appoint a sole arbitrator by mutual agreement.  If they cannot agree, the arbitrator will be appointed by the Chair of the Manitoba Labour Board.

(ii) The parties will conclude a Return to Work Agreement as soon as possible and UMFA will terminate the strike.  Any unresolved issues respecting return to work, including the claimed full pay and benefits for strikers, will stand referred to the arbitrator for determination along with the outstanding collective agreement issues.

(iii) The arbitrator will apply established interest arbitration principles including replication.

(iv) In making a salary award, the arbitrator will consider the parties’ mutual aim to achieve reasonable advancement in the U15 Group of Canadian Research University Salary Standings toward the 25th percentile during the life of the collective agreement.  

(v) Bargaining mandates issued by government will not be considered by the arbitrator.  

(vi) Notwithstanding paragraph 4(iii), governance proposals will be considered by the arbitrator on their merits, with a view to achieving a fair and reasonable result.  Governance proposals will not be rejected by the arbitrator on the basis that operational issues are better left to collective bargaining as opposed to interest arbitration.

(vii) While awaiting the arbitration hearing, the parties are encouraged to negotiate and/or mediate, which may narrow the issues or facilitate a settlement before hearing. 

5. The University has accepted the foregoing.  UMFA has not.  UMFA insists that all issues except advancement in the U15 Salary Standings (Recruitment and Retention Adjustments or R&R) be settled by negotiation, and only then will it arbitrate R&R.  This precondition is wholly unrealistic and unworkable.  Students should not continue to suffer during a leisurely and ultimately futile negotiation.

6. I urge UMFA to reconsider.  There is no need for this strike to continue.  If it does, this will not be because of a restrictive government mandate or employer intransigence.  Like the University, UMFA should be willing to subject all its proposals to scrutiny before an independent arbitrator and to live with the result.

7. I see no further value in mediation at this time.

ARNE PELTZ,
Mediator

UM UMFA contract mediation 2021 final recommendation Nov 25 2021