The Northern Ontario School of Medicine Faculty Association ratified a first collective agreement with the school last month following almost a year of negotiations on a contract.

The two-year deal, which has also been approved by the school’s board, offers “significant improvements in pay” for academic staff, said union president Brian Ross.
     
Discretionary stipends were eliminated and the money rolled into salary increases for all staff.
     
As well, the agreement has some of the strongest academic freedom language in the country.
     
“There were a few contentious issues and it took time to work them out,” Ross said. “We had wonderful support from our members throughout the bargaining process. We commend our bargaining team members, including Peter Simpson from CAUT, for their efforts in reaching a fair and reasonable agreement for our members. Now we have a deal and we look forward to a productive and professional relationship with the school in the coming years.”
     
NOSMFA represents full-time faculty, librarians, curriculum instructional designers and student affairs officers working for the medical school across Northern Ontario.
     
The association, which was certified in January 2006, is an affiliate of CAUT, and a member of the CAUT Defence Fund and the Sudbury and Thunder Bay District Labour Councils.