The University of Manitoba’s tentative contract with the faculty association has been ratified by rank-and-file members. The university reached the agreement with UMFA Oct. 15 following a protracted period of bargaining, conciliation and mediation.

The new contract that was negotiated just ahead of a strike deadline will be in place for three years (April 1, 2007 - March 30, 2010) and provides UMFA members with annual salary increases of 2.5, 2.5 and 2.9 per cent plus a $500 base salary increase for all members in each year of the contract.

Health benefits levels were also improved as a result of the new contract, including topped up parental leave of 16 weeks in year one, 17 weeks in year two and 18 weeks in year three.

The settlement also calls for new dedicated research time for academic librarians of 12 working days in each academic year and pension is now protected with language that prohibits the administration from making changes in pension contributions without UMFA’s consent.

Other significant provisions in the settlement include substantial agreement on elements of a new intellectual property article (final definitions, wording and formatting of the article are referred to final and binding interest arbitration), new language that obligates the administration to implement a reasonable workload adjustment when gender balance requirements mean that some academics have to assume increased service duties, and a requirement that an anomalies fund is maintained with $100,000 allocated in each year of the contract.

“The deal is a satisfactory one for our members,” said UMFA president Brenda Austin-Smith. “The settlement establishes a ‘middle ground’ and a way forward — it will allow time and opportunity for both the association and the administration to move away from the confrontation of an industrial dispute and hopefully engage constructively in the next round of bargaining.”

The university is currently engaged in the process of selecting a new president.