Brandon University Faculty Association
Rm. 333 CHO, 270 - 18th Street
Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A9
Ph. 204-727-7347
FAX: 204-725-0210

******FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*****

October 28, 2011, 4:00 p.m.

BUFA Negotiators Return to Brandon

Brandon University Faculty Association (BUFA) confirmed today that its bargaining team returned to Brandon late last night after 3 days of mediation efforts in Winnipeg to end the contract dispute between the faculty association and the Board of Governors of the university.

Earlier on Thursday afternoon, BUFA tabled before Mediator Michael Werier, a set of proposals on outstanding language issues to which the Employer undertook to respond later that afternoon.  As of 3:30 today, no response has been received. 

In commenting on these developments, BUFA President and Chief Negotiator, Joe Dolecki, said, “We were assured that we would receive a response by 6:30 p.m., but, as usual, no response to our proposal was received at that time, and we decided to return to Brandon.”

“We are hopeful that the Employer is redoubling its efforts so that we will receive something today,” he added.

Meanwhile, this afternoon a contingent of Canadian Association of University Teachers flying pickets joined the BUFA picket line and expressed support for BUFA in a meeting at the strike headquarters. They brought messages of solidarity from across the country and donations to the BUFA strike fund.

“The support from our colleagues across Canada has been overwhelming,” said David Winters, a member of the BUFA bargaining team, “Our members know that the whole academic world is watching events unfold in Brandon.”

The BUFA strike has entered its eighteenth day.

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