An Open Letter to Brandon University Board of Governors from a BUFA Member

posted October 20, 2011

October 13, 2011

Members of the Brandon University Board of Governors
 

Dear Board Members:

I am writing to you in my capacity as a past-member of the 2008 Brandon University Presidential Search Committee. I was the Faculty of Science representative on the Presidential Search Committee (18 regular plus four ex officio members ) and one of four members chosen by the committee-as-a-whole to conduct preliminary interviews of short-listed candidates. The 2008 faculty strike occurred while this committee was conducting its search for a new President and the negative fallout that arose out of that strike was clearly on the minds of committee members. It was the virtually unanimous view of the Committee that the two most important tasks of any new President would be to: 1) improve labour relations at Brandon University (i.e. avoid another strike) and 2) operate the Administration of Brandon University in an open and collegial fashion so as to foster engagement by Faculty, Staff and Students (i.e. repair the damage of the previous strike). As things have unfolded, it would appear that we made a poor choice in our selection of a President for Brandon University. The Faculty are back on strike (failure in task #1) and the trust between the faculty and the administration are at an all time low (failure in task #2). 

What is particularly unsettling is that this strike could easily have been avoided. From the Faculty perspective there were no major outstanding issues (unlike the 2008 strike where there were real concerns about the pension plan). There were differences on salary but that could have been worked out (it always is). The major difficulty is the attempt by the Administration to extensively re-write the Collective Agreement so as to effectively replace the current collegial model of faculty/university relations with a top-down, fear-driven one. This is not something that the Faculty will accede to without a fight.  What has been particularly troubling during this round of negotiations is the apparent distain the Administration holds for the Faculty- labeling us “inferior and second-rate”. This lack of respect for faculty is clearly shown by the attempt of the Administration to break the union by encouraging members to cross the picket line. Universities in Canada operate largely on a collegial model with faculty sitting on virtually every decision-making body in the institution. How well does the Administration think these committees will operate after it has gone out of its way to encourage divisions among faculty members? Even if the Administration “wins” in getting members to cross picket lines, it will lose in terms of engagement and cooperation. What Brandon University needs is a coming together, not a driving apart.

A third prolonged strike will have devastating consequences for Brandon University. Students will move elsewhere. Student enrollment is already an issue- no increase in 25 years while enrollments at other universities have soared. Similarly, recruitment of faculty members will suffer.  Faculty members want to teach and conduct their research, not walk the picket line. Why would the provincial government even consider establishing a medical school here if we’re always going on strike? I could go on, but I’m sure you are well aware of how badly the current situation could impact Brandon University. 

I urge you, as a faculty member who has devoted 27 years of my working life to Brandon University, to act quickly to resolve this strike. The Board of Governors is ultimately responsible for the operation of the university. All it would take is a phone call from the Chair of the Board  to end this strike. I urge you to ensure that this happens. Remember that the President of Brandon University works for you, not the reverse!

Yours sincerely,