University of Manitoba, faculty association reach tentative agreement

University of Manitoba photographed on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

The University of Manitoba and its faculty have reached a tentative agreement to avoid strike action at the province’s largest post-secondary institution.

The University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) announced the deal in a news releases early Saturday morning.

“I am delighted that we were able to arrive at a tentative agreement that improves our members’ working conditions without disrupting our students’ education,” UMFA president Erik Thomson wrote.

Full details of the deal haven’t been released, however, UMFA members will vote on Thursday, March 13.

In an email, Thomson told CTV News Winnipeg they’ve made “substantial progress on a lot of fronts” including salary, childcare, provisions for equity, and approaches to teaching in online formats.

UMFA members had voted in early February to authorize the potential strike. The association represents 1,300 professors, instructors, and librarians at the university. They had been without a contract since March 2024.

A bargaining deadline had been set for 11:59 p.m. Friday night with a strike date penciled in for Tuesday morning.

In an update on its labour relations page, the university wrote “this agreement reflects our commitment to supporting a fair and competitive deal for faculty members while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the university.”