Members of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association and many supporters really at the Legislature

 

There was a large rally at the Manitoba Legislature today - organized by the University of Manitoba Faculty Association which is on strike looking for a fair settlement with the University of Manitoba.  Salaries at the University of Manitoba have not kept pace with other Universities with Medical Faculties.  The result has been that professional staff are leaving for other provinces and it has become very difficult to recruit the teachers and researchers and librarians needed at the University in order to train the skilled people we need in Manitoba.   Today, the rally focused on the health care situation.  We need nurses and doctors, but we also need many other highly trained people including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, laboratory technicians, respiratory technicians, x-ray technicians and many more.  For the majority of these the University of Manitoba is the major training institution in Manitoba and for many of the health related occupations it is the only institution in Manitoba for such training. Dougald Lamont and I were there in support of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association because we see the University as vital to addressing so many of the important issues in Manitoba today and for training the people we need.  It is essential that we have a strong University of Manitoba.

A major complaint of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association has been that the Conservative government in Manitoba is interfering in the bargaining process.  At the rally, many called for the government to stop its interference in the bargaining process so that it can be settled sooner and students can get back to their classes.