New contract for RRC Polytech, ACC instructors

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This article was published 11/08/2023 (849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Students at Red River College Polytechnic and Assiniboine Community College in Brandon need not worry about a possible instructor strike during the back-to-school season.

After nearly two years of negotiations, during which employees gave their union a mandate to take job action amid growing frustrations in the spring, staff members at both Manitoba post-secondary institutions have ratified new collective agreements.

“I know it’s been a long time and I think it relieves some angst (among members),” said Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union. “They’ve basically sat with wages frozen for the last two years.”

MGEU represents about 1,900 members, including educators, administrators and information technology workers, between the two schools.

Their new four-year contract (2021-24) includes general salary increases of two per cent annually for all members. Long-time employees will also receive a three per cent bonus in 2024, the final year of the agreement.

Ross said the final proposal addresses concerns about employers offering some unit members greater overall increases than others.

Melanie Gudmundson, chief human resources officer for RRC Polytech, announced the union ratification — “the result of a tremendous amount of effort by all parties” — in a notice posted to the Winnipeg-based school’s website Friday.

Contract negotiations began in October 2021. An impasse prompted the parties to start working with a conciliator in early 2023.

Union leaders began preparing picket lines in March, citing a strong strike mandate from members, but April job action was called off amid further discussion with the employer and conciliator. On July 13, those involved reached a tentative agreement.

According to RRC Polytech’s bargaining webpage, its full-time employees will also receive $1,000 and part-timers are to be awarded $500 as a “recognition bonus.”

The package includes a new maximum salary schedule step, benefit improvements, and additional annual lump sums for instructors with a master’s degree or doctorate to recognize their qualifications.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca