Teachers in 37 divisions reach first provincewide contract

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This article was published 19/07/2024 (443 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Educators in 37 school divisions across Manitoba have reached a tentative collective agreement that includes pay increases and improved working conditions.

If ratified by Mantitoba Teachers’ Society members, it would be the first provincewide agreement in Manitoba.

“This agreement represents a significant step forward for Manitoba teachers and the public education system as a whole. It sets a precedent for collaborative negotiation and ensures a fair and unified approach to addressing educators’ needs across the province,” said union president Nathan Martindale in a written statement.

Amendments to the Public Schools Act made under the former Progressive Conservative government meant division-specific agreements of years past would be the last.

The province’s public school teachers have been working under expired agreements since June 30, 2022. Negotiations for a centralized agreement began in the fall of 2022.

The new agreement — covering July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026 — proposes yearly pay increases for teachers ranging between 2.5 and three per cent.

An increase of 2.5 per cent is proposed for 2022-23, 2.75 per cent for 2023-24, and three per cent for each of the two years between 2024 and 2026.

A one per cent “retention adjustment” would also take effect in February 2026.

The proposed agreement would provide its 16,000 public school members with an increase of 12.85 per cent across the entire period.

That means a teacher with a bachelor’s degree in education would begin earning $70,379, and in their fourth year, earn $84,873.

For a teacher with a master’s degree, starting wages would be $84,414 and increase to $101,241 in year four.

Educators who work in Frontier, Flin Flon and Kelsey would receive an additional $3,000 northern allowance. And those teaching at least 12 per cent of the time in an Indigenous language would receive $500.

Substitute teachers would also earn the full 12.85 per cent increase over the course of the four years in the agreement.

It would be the “best salary adjustment over a four-year period” in more than three decades, said Martindale.

The agreement also outlines “gains” for working conditions and leaves.

Teachers would have more prep time, at 210 minutes for every six day cycle in 2025-26, up from 180 minutes per cycle. Instructional days would be limited to 5.5 hours.

A single day off would be credited per 50 hours of voluntary extracurricular activity, up to a maximum of three days.

Other “gains” noted in the agreement include: paid professional development days during the summertime, up to two days per year of personal leave, up to three days off for “Indigenous observances,” and reimbursement of sick time and up to $1,000 in costs associated with on-the-job physicial or pyschological injuries.

Though Martindale acknowledged the proposed agreement won’t satisfy all union members, he said substantial salary increases and an improved work/life balance “are crucial victories.”

“Teachers will gain greater control over their time with improved access to leaves,” Martindale said.

The union’s bargaining table recommends teachers ratify the agreement in an online vote scheduled for August 1-7.

The tentative agreement does not apply to educators who work for the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine or MTS federal bargaining units.

Manitoba School Boards Association executive director Josh Watt declined to comment because the agreement has yet to be ratified.

jordan.snobelen@freepress.mb.ca