BUFA Member: I understand that there have been strike votes in each of the last three rounds of negotiations. Why were they held?

Answer: You're right. There were formal strike votes carried out in 1998, 2002 and 2005. Having a strike vote, and getting a strong positive response is a very real way that members can show their support for BUFA, its position and its negotiators. It shows the Employer that members are serious about their demands and not merely presenting a "wish list". It is a means to spur progress in negotiations.

BUFA Member: Does having a strike vote mean that there will be a strike?

Answer: No. Definitely not. In 1998, 2002, and in 2005, the results of the strike votes were between 70% and 80% in favour of job action, but only in the first case, was a strike deemed necessary.

BUFA Member: What do you mean "deemed necessary"?

Answer: The question on the strike vote is usually worded so that a positive result empowers the BUFA Executive to take strike action if it feels that such is necessary. Following a positive strike vote by the membership, if, at some stage, in the opinion of the BUFA Executive, insufficient progress is being made at negotiations, on the advice of the negotiators, the BUFA Executive could initiate a strike.

BUFA Member: What about conciliation, mediation and arbitration?

Answer: These are all useful tools as well, and having a strike vote or even taking strike action does not rule them out. For example, in 1998, BUFA and the Employer entered conciliation with a government appointed conciliator. After several days of continuous intense negotiations, conciliation failed. The situation then was such that BUFA simultaneously initiated a strike, and also entered mediation with a mutually agreed-upon mediator. As you know, the strike lasted three days and the result was a new agreement which was ratified by the membership.

In 2002, after receiving a positive strike mandate, BUFA again entered conciliation, and this time it was successful in achieving a new Collective Agreement which was acceptable to the membership.

In 2005, again with a positive strike mandate, BUFA entered conciliation which, unfortunately failed. BUFA then entered mediation. In that instance, although agreement could not be reached, BUFA decided to send the outstanding matters to binding arbitration instead of taking job action.

BUFA Member: What if the result of the strike vote is negative?

Answer: A negative result would signal to the Executive and the negotiators that the membership is willing to accept the Employer's offer, and forego any of BUFA's proposals. It is likely that negotiations would then end with BUFA holding a ratification vote of the membership on the Employer's position.

BUFA Member: What should I do to prepare for a strike vote?

Answer: The best thing that you could do is to become informed about the issues and the positions. As you know if you're reading this, BUFA has sent out bulletins to the membership throughout negotiations. You're also probably aware of the upcoming information meeting of the membership.

BUFA Member: Will a strike vote be held at the meeting?

Answer: No. Strike votes are conducted by secret ballot. In order to accommodate members who are based off campus, the voting would probably take about a week to complete.

BUFA Member: I'm still a bit apprehensive about this whole thing. If there were to be a strike, what would happen?

Answer: Many of your questions can probably be answered by the next Q&A entitled "What if there's a strike?" If you have others, please contact your area representative.