BUFA Member: I know that I can't teach, but can I get into my office during a strike?

Answer: No. BUFA expects all members to honour the picket line. In fact, in the strike of 1998, BUFA was locked out by the Employer one minute after the strike began. There were extra security guards hired to control access to University buildings (i.e. to keep BUFA members out). BUFA members could still access the Student Union Building which is the property of the students. Special arrangements, in the strike protocol, will be made for the care of animals or the maintenance of special equipment that could be damaged if left alone. If members need their computers or files, they should be taken home before the beginning of the strike. Your e-mail can be accessed from off campus through webmail and your voice mail can be accessed by calling 727-7400. However, it is possible that the Employer may disable these systems during a strike.

BUFA Member: Can I teach my classes if we meet off campus?

Answer: No. During a strike, BUFA expects all services performed by BUFA members to be withdrawn.

BUFA Member: How will I know if a strike is called?

Answer: Before a strike is called, you will be asked to provide a home telephone number and e-mail address if you have one. A "telephone tree" will be arranged to quickly notify members of the beginning or ending of a strike. During a strike, you will be kept informed by a variety of methods. (telephone, e-mail, BUFA website (www.bufa.org), written information distributed at strike headquarters, the media etc.)

BUFA Member: I've never been on strike before. What do I do?

Answer: Before a strike is called, BUFA will be having information sessions run by area representatives to go over what will be happening and how you will be expected to participate. You will likely be required to picket in order to receive strike pay. In 1998, the standard picket duty was two non-consecutive two hour sessions per day.

BUFA Member: I don't know if I'm physically able to walk for two hours at a time. Does that mean I won't get strike pay?

Answer: No. BUFA will accommodate any member who is ill or physically challenged. Also, there will be other jobs available at strike headquarters. For reasons of personal safety, those members in isolated sites (such as BUNTEP centers) will not be asked to picket those sites.

BUFA Member: I live from paycheck to paycheck. How will I manage?

Answer: Full time members who participate in picket duties will receive strike pay from BUFA. After the first three days, part of this will be paid by the CAUT Defence Fund. The BUFA Executive has voted that full time members who picket will receive strike pay of $125 per day. This is to be payable 7 days a week although pickets would only operate 5 days per week. It should also be noted that strike pay is not taxable. Also, BUFA will not be subtracting any deductions from strike pay, so a picketing full time member can probably expect take home strike pay of $875 per week.

BUFA Member: If there's no deduction for fringe benefits, what happens to my life insurance, extended Blue Cross, and all that stuff?

Answer: If there's a strike, the Employer will not pay the premiums for any fringe benefits. However, BUFA will make arrangements to pay the premiums for these benefits on your behalf. Once the strike is over, BUFA may require repayment from your regular paychecks. However, in 1998, BUFA decided that since the strike was a short one (3 days), that BUFA would not pursue reimbursement for the premiums for these three days.

BUFA Member: That takes care of fringe benefits, but what if the strike pay doesn't quite cover my mortgage and car payments?

Answer: Most lenders will be quite understanding in case of a strike. They expect that you will be back to work fairly quickly. It's not like you've been laid off or fired and could be without a paycheck for months. Ask your creditor or personal banker if you can delay a payment until the strike is over. Don't just miss a payment. Make arrangements beforehand. In certain circumstances it may be possible to arrange a loan from BUFA and/or the CAUT Defence fund.

BUFA Member: Won't that just delay the inevitable? After the strike is over, I'll have extra payments to make.

Answer: Don't forget that after the strike is over, you should be getting back pay since the settlement will be probably be retroactive to April 1. Also, after a strike, the Employer will expect BUFA members to complete the teaching of their courses. BUFA members will be paid for doing so. As well, in the back to work protocol, it is possible that a "signing bonus" could be negotiated to "claw back" a sizeable portion of the pay lost during the strike. This was the case in 1998.

BUFA Member: How long will a strike last?

Answer: That's hard to say. Nobody wants a long strike. The one and only strike at Brandon University in 1998 lasted three days (one of which was a holiday). In the broader Canadian University context, some strikes have lasted well over a month.

BUFA Member: If a strike does last two weeks or longer, what will happen to the students?

Answer: If necessary, BUFA could agree to extend the term and/or hold the exam period after the Christmas break and extend the second term if necessary. Of course, in order to agree to this, some extra compensation for members in the form of the signing bonus mentioned above would be necessary. Although students may be considerably inconvenienced, they should not have to worry about not completing a term or the year or not graduating.

BUFA Member: This answers a lot of my questions. What if I have more later?

Answer: Just contact your BUFA area representative. The area representatives should be able to help you, either themselves, or by passing your questions on to others.