NOSM University, formerly the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and its unionized workers have voted to ratify the new three-year collective agreement.
It was last Sunday that both sides revealed they had reached a last minute tentative agreement and that ratification would take place during the week.
Both the unionized workers and NOSM University's Board of Governors voted in favour of ratifying the new collective agreement on November 8, 2023, said a news release from the medical school.
The new deal applies to OPSEU/SEFPO Local 677 (Unit 1) and the NOSM University Faculty & Staff Association (NUFSA) covering full-time faculty, librarians, and professional staff at NOSM. The medical school has campuses located in Thunder Bay and Sudbury.
On behalf of the NOSM University’s Board of Governors, Joy Warkentin, chair, expressed thanks to the members of both negotiating teams for their hard work in reaching an agreement that will ultimately benefit learners and communities across the North.
NOSM University and its Board of Governors look forward to the continuation of a strong professional and productive partnership with OPSEU/SEFPO Local 677, Unit 1 over the next three years and are appreciative of their members' contributions to the University's vision of Innovative Education and Research for a Healthier North, said the news release.
Dr. Darrel Manitowabi, President of the bargaining unit negotiating the contract,expressed appreciation for the work of both negotiating teams coming to an agreement that prioritizes equity and upholds the quality medical education provided by the faculty, librarians and professional staff of NOSM University at a time when Northern communities need more doctors, said the release.
The new agreement covers three-years and is in effect from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. It provides improvements to wages, benefits and various components of the collective agreement that represent mutual enhancements of the workplace and are in line with the university sector in Canada, said the release from the university.
