Access Your Collective Agreement
Adobe Reader is required to view the Collective Agreement. Plain text articles can be provided upon request.
The electronic copy of the Collective Agreement has been provided for convenience only. It is not an official copy. The printed Collective Agreement is the legal document with respect to the negotiated terms and conditions of employment of all UMFA Members. To request a paper copy, email faum@umfa.ca.
Knowing and Using Your Collective Agreement
Knowing and Using Your Collective Agreement primers were developed to bring clarity to some of the more confusing aspects of the CA. Each section of Knowing and Using Your Collective Agreement lays out the groundwork and the practical takeaways for some of the most important collegial processes governed by your contract. You can find answers to some of members most frequent questions below, with links to an appropriate primer as necessary.
When in conflict, however, the language in the CA takes precedence over the descriptions included here. If you have questions or concerns, contact the UMFA office at 204-474-8272 or faum@umfa.ca. The files below are in PDF format. Plain text versions are available upon request.
Can I get an overview of the basics?
Absolutely! The Primer for our latest Collective Agreement is here.
I’ve been asked to record my lectures to accommodate a student. What do I do?
This document will give you an overview of your obligations and the questions you should be asking to protect your copyright while working with Student Accessibility Services to accommodate student needs. Your UMFA office staff are happy to help you with specifics via email at faum@umfa.ca, or by phone at 204-474-8272.
My Administrator asked me for a meeting. What do I do?
You have the right to ask your Dean or Administrator what the meeting will be out, and to bring a representative from your Union if the meeting involves an investigation or discipline concerning yourself. Educate yourself on your rights here, and contact the UMFA office staff for advice via email at faum@umfa.ca, or by phone at 204-474-8272. It’s always your choice whether to bring a representative to a meeting, but having an expert on the Collective Agreement can help resolve things quickly.
How often is the collective agreement updated?
The Collective Agreement has a negotiated period where it is in effect. Thirty to ninety days before the expiry of the Collective Agreement, your Union or your Employer can notify the other party that they intend to bargain. Negotiations then continue until a new revised Collective Agreement is reached. It may take several months to finalize official documents after an agreement is reached, and the revised agreement is updated.
I’m applying for tenure or promotion. Is there anything I should know?
Please check our summary review of Articles 19 and 20, and if there are any concerns regarding recommendation be sure to contact the UMFA office staff via email at faum@umfa.ca, or by phone at 204-474-8272.
I’ve been told I have grounds for a Grievance. What does that mean, and what happens if I file one?
A grievance is the most commonly used formal method of challenging your employer when they violate your rights under the Collective Agreement. This primer explains the usual process.
I’ve been tasked with helping revise Tenure and Promotion Guidelines. What should I know?
This primer has a lot of advice on creating fair and Collective Agreement compliant guidelines!
My Department is reviewing our Teaching and Workload Guidelines. How are we supposed to do this?
I’m thinking about reducing my workload as I get near retirement. What are my options?
See our guide to Article 10 and Retirement and Reduced Appointments.