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Brandon University Faculty Association ******FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*****OCTOBER 11, 2008 BU BREAKS OFF NEGOTIATIONS Brandon University's decision to break off negotiations with the Brandon University Faculty Association (BUFA) is "remarkable, regrettable, but not surprising," according to BUFA's chief negotiator, Joe Dolecki. Yesterday, BUFA's negotiators met with the Employer's team to receive the response to a BUFA initiative intended to resolve the outstanding monetary issues in the current dispute. That initiative was rejected by the Employer. "We advised the Employer that BUFA would be holding an executive meeting at 2:00pm in the afternoon to consider their remarks, assess the status of negotiations, and to decide on our next step," Dolecki said. "We stated that we would advise them, after the meeting, whether BUFA would continue the strike or to conclude these negotiations within the parameters set out by the Employer and schedule further meetings later in the evening when our lawyer could be present," Dolecki added. The BUFA executive meeting ended at 5:10 pm. According to Dolecki, "When we returned to Strike Headquarters, at 5:17pm, to prepare our formal response to the Employer, we were advised that the Employer had already issued a public statement breaking off negotiations." "This remarkable action echoes the Employer's response in the mediation process, when they announced that they were submitting the issues between us for binding arbitration, nearly two days before we received the mediators report. Regrettably, these actions clearly indicate that the Employer has had no desire to seek resolution at the table." Dolecki observed. BUFA's Executive passed a motion endorsing their bargaining team's position and urging the Board of Governors to send their negotiators back to the bargaining table with the means to engage in meaningful and productive negotiations with BUFA "The irony in all this is that BUFA negotiators were actually preparing to make another overture to the Employer in order to resolve this dispute expeditiously," Dolecki said, "But that is a moot point now." "In any negotiation, it takes two to Tango, and BUFA is the only one on the dance floor, Dolecki added. BUFA has been on legal strike since Monday, September 29, 2008. BUFA represents BUFA represents approximately 240 full-time, part-time, and sessional employees at Brandon University - including Professors, Librarians, Instructional Associates, and Administrative Associates. -- 30 -- For Further Information Contact: |
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