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BU strike over after 45 days; classes resume Monday

By: Jillian Austin

Posted: 11/26/2011 1:22 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN Enlarge Image

The longest labour dispute at a Manitoba university appears to be ending after Brandon University reached a tentative deal with its professors late Friday.

After 45 days, the Brandon University faculty strike is over.

An agreement between BU administration and the faculty association was reached late last night, after a full day of negotiation.

"We were able to… bargain a collective agreement at the table, which is what we wanted to do," said BUFA secretary Bill Paton. Job action against the university ceased at 11:59 p.m Friday. Classes will resume Monday at 6 p.m.

"It’s great news," said BU chief negotiator Grant Mitchell. "I wish it had been six weeks earlier but the most important thing is that it’s done and the term will be saved."

University president Deborah Poff said everyone is "very relieved."

"Hallelujah, I am so happy," she said, adding there is a long road ahead.

"We have a whole bunch of work to do, we just have to rebuild this university and it’s going to be very difficult," she said. "We have to rebuild our reputation and we have to take care of our students... This is the real challenge."

Details of the negotiations would not be given out by either side, as it still has to be ratified by the union and the board. "They narrowed it down to the last few issues and found something that was acceptable to both sides," Mitchell said. "Which is what you always hope for, you hope it happens faster but the important thing is that it has happened."

At last check there was a $200,000 difference between parties in the second year of the agreement. The union’s position was to see salaries increase by one per cent in year one, two per cent in year two, three per cent in year three and three per cent in year four. They were also seeking a $3,000 lump sum payment as back-to-work compensation.

The university had offered a fouryear wage package that includes an increase of one per cent in year one, one per cent in year two, and three per cent in years three and four, plus an $1,800 signing bonus per striking member.

Students are assured that plans are in place to make sure both first and second terms will be completed, Mitchell said.

"They will probably be shorter than they would normally have been scheduled to be but they’ll both be completed and students will get a chance to complete their year."

There have been no classes for the university’s 3,000 students since the faculty began picketing on Oct. 12.

Last Monday, Labour Minister Jennifer Howard ordered all members of Brandon University Faculty Association to vote on whether to accept or reject the last contract offer from the university.

That vote was to take place next week, however with the tentative agreement made last night, it will no longer be necessary.

jaustin@brandonsun.com

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