History made as Manitoba teachers ratify 1st-ever provincial collective agreement

Manitoba teachers have ratified their first-ever provincial collective agreement.

Nearly 70 per cent of eligible teachers cast ballots, with 95 per cent voting in favour of the deal, which covers public school teachers in the 37 anglophone school divisions.

The Manitoba Teachers' Society struck the tentative deal with the Manitoba School Boards Associationin July to bringall teachers, other thanthose in the Franco-ManitobanSchool Division (DSFM)or federal bargaining units, under a singlecontract.

Theagreement covers16,000 public school educators.

The new four-year collective agreement, retroactive to July 1, 2022, and in effect until June 30, 2026, has general wage increases of 2.5 per cent in 2022-23, 2.75 per cent in 2023-24 and three per cent in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. The compounded wage increase is approximately 12.85 per cent over the term of the contract.Teachers will also get a one per cent "teacher retention adjustment" starting Feb. 1, 2026.

It also offersimproved working conditionsand enhanced workplace safety and health measures, a news release fromthe teachers' societysays.

Among those is a new salary schedule for the 2026-27 school year with additional allowances for northern regions and Indigenous language teaching, paid leave during inclement weather, increased prep time, capped instructional days, provisions for extra-curricular activities and improved leave options, including up to three days for Indigenous ceremonial, cultural and spiritual observance leave.

Substitute rates will also be adjusted, withgeographical regionsestablished to standardize rates across the province, the release says.