'It worries me': U of M students concerned as faculty strike nears
Between midterms and campus life, students at the University of Manitoba have a lot to think about - including a potential faculty strike.
"It worries me as a student and I think it worries other students because when our professors or lecturers go on strike, it's going to affect our academic year and how our studies are going to be," said Emmanuel Dwira, a student at U of M.
The University of Manitoba Faculty Association, the union representing more than 1,200 staff at the university, is asking for a pay raise of 2.75 per cent in each of the next two years.
Announced on Friday, staff will go on strike starting Nov. 2 if a deal isn't reached by next Sunday.
"Our members are committed to the future of public education in Manitoba, and we are frustrated that after five years of wage freezes and government interference that the administration can't recognize why we continue to struggle with issues of faculty retention," Orvie Dingwall, the UMFA President, said in a news release.
The faculty association has now gained the backing of the students' union after it took a vote on Thursday.
"(University of Manitoba Students’ Union) supports whatever it takes to get students back in the classroom, or I guess in this case, before Nov 2. Our official stance is, yes, supporting UMFA in these labour negotiations," said Brendan Scott, president of UMSA.
While the students' union officially supports the potential strike, some individual students are still worried about its impact on their education.
"Because of COVID-19, studies are online. So even online classes are making it a bit difficult for us to catch up and actually understand what is being taught. So a potential strike is going to worsen things," said Dwira.
"Because I'm a TA, some of my labs will be cancelled, and they do have to be made up eventually. So that might push back scheduling and it just messes up some things for me," said Rianna Espada-Belonio, a third-year nursing student.
In a previous statement, the president of the University of Manitoba said the school is going to continue to bargain in good faith and that it doesn't want a labour disruption.
-With files from CTV’s Danton Unger
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.