Classes resumed at the University of Manitoba Oct. 26 after a four day strike by faculty members and professional librarians. The strike by more than 1,000 members of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association over wages and benefits ended when the association was successful in having the administration agree to submit outstanding issues to arbitration.
"We remain convinced our positions are fair and reasonable, and were willing to put our case to a neutral third party," said UMFA chief negotiator Robert Chernomas.
The faculty association and the administration presented their positions to Winnipeg lawyer Martin Freedman Oct. 2728. The parties have agreed the arbitrator's decision would be binding on both bargaining committees who would recommend ratification to each of their principals. Freedman's report is expected in about six weeks.
The faculty association and the administration have signed a transitional back-to-work protocol that restores the 19982001 collective agreement until a new agreement comes into effect. UMFA has been a certified union since 1974.