On February 15, 2021, the Pembina Trails arbitration board issued a unanimous award. Significant gains were made on the association’s three key proposals of economic protection, defined job expectations, and job security. This award is an unprecedented decision for teachers.
Here are the highlights:
1) Effective Period / Salaries and Allowances
The board awarded a four-year effective period with the following increases:
- July 1, 2018: 1.6%
- July 1, 2019: 1.4%
- July 1, 2020: 0.5%
- July 1, 2021: COLA determined as Statistics Canada’s 2021 inflation rate
This award is now the pattern.
The board rejected the division’s ability to pay arguments, reaffirmed the Louis Riel pattern in the first two years, and enshrined inflation protection in the third and fourth years.
Enshrining inflation protection in an interest arbitration award through a COLA formula is a breakthrough in Manitoba teacher collective bargaining.
2) Term Contracts
The board awarded the Louis Riel language restricting the division’s use of term contracts.
3) Assignable Time
The board placed new restrictions on the length of the instructional day in the Pembina Trails School Division:
- Maximum 5 hours and 50 minutes in each high school
- Maximum 5 hours and 45 minutes in all other schools
This is the first time such a clause has been awarded through teacher interest arbitration in Manitoba.
Click here to read the full award.