Lockout Assures Fairness: Employer

October 15, 2008

"We are very much aware of the unwelcome consequences that this [strike] holds for students. When strike action results in the uneven cancellation of classes, students schedules are disrupted, commuter students are significantly disadvantaged and some students may have most of their classes continue while others will not. Therefore, Brandon University has elected to lock out all BUFA members effective immediately. This decision ensures that when classes resume, any accommodation that may be required to address lost days of study can be applied evenly and will take into account the needs of students in various programs."

-- Brandon University administration, September 29, 2008

As visitors to this web site will know, the same administration that issued this statement on September 29 chose to order its Education students to cross BUFA picket lines on October 14. For them, administration appears to have concluded, the lockout can be lifted. Never mind "evenly applying" post-strike accommodations and treating everyone the same.

But, you say, student teaching is a practicum situation: practica are different from classes.

Tell that to the 200 Nursing students who remain locked out and who are currently missing their practica as a result.

Let's see. This lockout assures that all students are in the same boat, so that we don't unfairly privilege certain groups as others are forced to suffer the strike's adverse consequences. And these provisions assure that when the strike ends we won't have a whole raft of different or competing circumstances with which to contend? It's all about being fair? Right. Got it.