The administration says they have no more money.
Is that credible? Think about all those expensive ads on television and
in the newspapers. The disinformation campaign they have launched does
not suggest impoverishment.
Rather, it suggests that the administration would prefer to spend its
resources fighting with the union rather than resolving the outstanding
issues to the mutual satisfaction of MUNFA and the administration.
Jack Strawbridge also alleges that MUNFA is holding out for "extra"
money. The implication is that we are making new monetary demands.
Such is not the case. MUNFA is not asking for any monetary item that was not included in our proposals, tabled long before we were anywhere near a strike.
Didn't the administration read our proposals?
Status of negotiations:
After the MUNFA negotiating team met with the conciliator, the conciliator presented MUNFA'S last position to the administration.
During the evening of Thursday, 9 November, MUNFA'S chief negotiator received several calls from the conciliator for clarification of MUNFA'S last position.
It is possible to infer that the administration was giving that position some attention.
Meanwhile MUNFA waits for a reply to its last position.
Return to work protocols
The terms of our return to work are subjects for negotiation.
As of today, students have lost two days of classes.
This is because the university declared last week a study break (except Tuesday) and it has shortened the semester by four days. Today is thus only the second day for which classes have been lost. The university has also canceled Monday, which is a staff holiday. It may be that they intend to treat Monday as a holiday.
We believe that were the strike to be settled today or during the weekend, the two (or three) days that need to be made up will be made up, that MUNFA members will cooperate, but that the terms will be the subject of negotiation by MUNFA and the administration.
DISINFORMATION:
News reports of Wednesday's negotiating session in the Telegram stated:
Strawbridge...said he was concerned the union "did not display a sense of urgency despite the harm the strike is causing."
INFORMATION:
On Wednesday, November 8, MUNFA presented its penultimate proposals. The administration said "No." To everything. Does this suggest that the administration is showing the kind of urgency it alleges is absent from MUNFA?
DISINFORMATION:
News reports of Wednesday's negotiating session in the Telegram stated:
Talks broke off about 9 p.m. Wednesday.
If you called the MUN information line, you would have heard the same thing.
INFORMATION:
On Wednesday, November 8, both parties were expected at the table at 4pm.
MUNFA came to the table at 4pm.
The administration showed up at 5pm. They left the table at 5:45pm, having said "NO" to everything MUNFA tabled.
Does this strike you as the administration showing urgency toward the bargaining process?
