Professors and librarians at Brock University could begin the school year with a new contract after the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) and University Administration reached a tentative agreement early Wednesday morning, says BUFA President Dr. Linda Rose-Krasnor.
BUFA, which represents 570 professors and professional librarians, reached the deal with the University negotiators early Wednesday morning after five days of mediation, she said.
“Both sides worked really hard and were committed to reaching an agreement,” Dr. Rose-Krasnor, a Psychology professor, said.
BUFA is withholding public comment on the deal until both the University’s Board of Trustees and BUFA members ratify the Agreement.
It’s now up to BUFA’s Executive to decide whether to recommend the agreement to members, and to decide if and when members will vote on the deal.
BUFA Chief Negotiator Dr. Charles Burton (Political Science) called the mediator’s role “critical” in bringing the two sides together.
The Collective Agreement between BUFA and the University expired at the end of June.
When BUFA asked in June to apply for mediation, the University’s negotiating team agreed. Pre-conciliation mediation is a non-binding service provided by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour. A provincially appointed mediator works with both sides to help them overcome obstacles to negotiating a new contract.
Mediation between BUFA and Brock’s Administration began Aug. 6.