Four year deal ratified at Nipissing University

The faculty strike at Nipissing University is officially over.

93 percent of full-time Faculty have ratified the four year deal reached with the University last week.

The University board of governors ratified the agreement last Friday.

The contract includes a five per cent increase to base pay over the four-year term, additional steps added to the salary grid in 2017 and 2018, increases to benefits for retirees, increases to professional expense reimbursements, and enhancements to parental leave.

There’s also a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Special Governance Commission to assess the University’s collegial structures.

In a release, Hilary Earl, FASBU Chief Negotiator says, “All NUFA Members can be proud of this deal. It puts us on the path to fix some of the structural problems at Nipissing, to resist the growth of casualized labour, and to start bridging the gap in our Members’ salaries relative to other faculty across the province. The real work starts now to ensure that faculty voices are heard.”

Meantime, Dr. Mike DeGagné, president and vice-chancellor says, “It is wonderful news for our students and our community that we have a ratified agreement in place with our full-time faculty members,”

He goes on to say, “I’m especially happy for our students. Their academic and personal well-being is our top priority, and we know this has been very difficult for them. We are pleased that students can now concentrate on getting the most out of their Nipissing University experience and we can get back to celebrating our faculty for their teaching and research excellence.”