Earlier this summer, after a month of intensive bargaining, the University of Northern British Columbia Faculty Association reached an accord with the board of governors on their second collective agreement. Members of the faculty association voted 87 per cent in favour of the new contract, which is effective from July 1, 1998 to June 30, 2001. Highlights include a 1 per cent wage increase after 20 months, a 1.5 per cent lump sum in the third year, and a new method of calculating teaching workload (by contact hour). Other terms of the new agreement feature improved job security for contract instructors who have been employed at UNBC for four years, a streamlined complaint and grievance procedure, improvement to the promotion and tenure process, and inclusion of both lab instructors and regional chairs.

Source: OPSEU, Negotiations News, September 8, 1998.