In late February, the administration at Mount Allison University and the Mount Allison Faculty Association brokered a last-minute deal for the long awaited salary scales with the assistance of an arbitrator. The terms of a mediated settlement following the 1999 strike at the university called for final offer selection for the determination of salary scales for the final two years of a three-year collective agreement.

At the hearing on Feb. 25, arbitrator Michel Picher expressed the view that final offer selection was inappropriate for the salary dispute and encouraged the parties to find a solution before resorting to arbitration.

Negotiations resulted in agreement on salaries for years two and three, extension of the contract into a fourth year, and interest arbitration on the salary settlement for year four.

Salary scales available at http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/MAFA/arbitrations/scales97to02.htm.