BUFA's Bargaining Position

Summary of BUFA's Bargaining Position

The Union's bargaining position focuses on Quality of Learning, Job Security for Sessionals, a Respectful Environment, and No Clawbacks. BUFA continues to be concerned about misinformation circulating about our bargaining position, particularly in reference to exaggerations of our financial position. According BUFA's most recent concession on salary, members would see a scale increase over a proposed 4 year contract totalling 10.1% (down from 16.7% in our opening offer for a 3 year contract). Readers are referred to the following information, which presents our position and related arguments.

We have provided an offer-by-offer summary of the salary positions of the two parties. We note that in year one of the proposal, our request is already 2% below the current level of inflation for Manitoba.

The bargaining team has provided a summary of the importance of a fair salary offer.

A document explaining how academic salaries are structured differently from those in most other careers helps dispel some myths perpetuated by the Employer when they present inflated estimations of the costs of BUFA's reasonable salary request.

Salary is just one of many issues BUFA is bargaining for to ensure the quality of education students will receive at Brandon University. In short, the Employer is attempting a reckless overhaul of virtually every element of the collective agreement that governs the working conditions of BUFA members. We are working to keep what has been established over 30+ years of bargaining between BUFA and the Employer. A series of updates reporting on progress during this round of negotiations is available here.