Following a successful strike vote, members of the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association voted recently to ratify a new five-year collective agreement.

In each of the first two years the agreement provides scale increases of $2,000 and structural adjustments and increases to career development increments. In the final three years the increase is 2.5%, with a top-up in years four and five if CPI is above 2.5%.

Paid parental leave is in the contract for the first time, with 14 weeks at 95% of salary, increasing to 15 weeks after 2005. Other changes include coverage for new categories of health benefits, greater flexibility in workload assignments, and a new clause in the existing practices article that requires the administration to obtain the association's approval for any new by-laws or policies that affect the rights and responsibilities of members. The agreement also has a new provision for mandatory retirement at age 69, effective in 2005-2006.

"Our members' strike mandate sent a strong message," said faculty association president Amanda Goldrick-Jones. "Fortunately it was heard, and we were able to reach an agreement without having to go on strike."