Tories interfered with U of M contract talks, court rules

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This article was published 13/10/2021 (1168 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba Court of Appeal judge has reinforced a 2020 ruling that found the provincial government “substantially interfered” with contract negotiations five years ago between the University of Manitoba and the union that represents its academics.

In an appeal decision published Wednesday, a three-judge panel sided with the province in overturning a Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench ruling that deemed the 2017 wage freeze legislation, the Public Services Sustainability Act unconstitutional.

Chief Justice Richard Chartier and his colleagues, however, upheld a judge’s conclusion that the province violated professors’, instructors’ and academic librarians’ rights to freedom of association, when it secretly handed their employer a salary mandate in 2016.

“Manitoba’s conduct not only significantly disrupted the balance between the U of M and UMFA, but also significantly damaged their relationship, thereby seriously undermining what had been a meaningful and productive process of good faith collective bargaining,” Chartier wrote in his decision.

The judge countered the province’s argument that a mandate was simply provided to the university late in its bargaining process.

Per the decision, the province got involved in the matter in October 2016 after learning the university had put forward a proposal to have academics’ wages increase by seven per cent over four years.

It was then the province directed U of M to bargain for a one-year agreement with a zero per cent hike because it was concerned the offer would create a bad precedent, wrote Chartier, adding Manitoba ordered the university not to disclose to the union where the mandate had come from.

Although the university disagreed with the mandate, given the parties had engaged in more than 20 bargaining sessions, the decision states administration abided by the mandate because it was told there would be “financial consequences” if it did not follow through.

The union, which represents 1,200 employees, launched a three-week-long strike when it was informed of the mandate during mediation.

The association, which says wages have been frozen since 2016, is holding another strike vote this weekend. Members claim the provincial government is still interfering in contract talks, which has worsened recruitment and retention problems at U of M.

“The PC government needs to learn from the mistakes of the past, stop interfering in our bargaining, and let us come to a free and fair deal,” said Orvie Dingwall, president of the faculty association, in a prepared release on the latest ruling.

A university spokesperson indicated Thursday the administration continues to bargain in good faith and has put forward a new proposal that recognizes its commitment to making faculty salaries more competitive with comparable universities.

Myrrhanda Novak, executive director of public affairs at U of M, said the school has proposed a four-year contract with annual increases of one per cent, one per cent, 1.25 per cent, and 1.25 per cent, in addition to structural changes to enhance pay scales for new employees.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie