Rules relaxed for Bobcat coaches

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This article was published 09/11/2011 (5321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fearing a continuation of the 29-day faculty strike, a contingent of Brandon University Bobcats twice met with Brandon University Faculty Association executive members on Tuesday to request their coaches be allowed to run practices.

A compromise memorandum of understanding, signed by both administration and BUFA, will allow BU’s coaches to travel with their teams, but they won’t be allowed to coach games until the strike is over.

“We are asking of they can run our practices, coach our games then return to the picket line,” said Caryn Edwards, a trainer with the men’s basketball team. “They wouldn’t teach. We just want the two sides to work together before our season is done.”

Brandon University’s striking faculty association reaffirmed on Tuesday it will not seek an arbitrated settlement in its labour dispute with the administration, and instead prefers to settle their differences through collective bargaining.

On Monday, Manitoba Labour Minister Jennifer Howard, mediator Michael Werier and BU president Deborah Poff indicated an arbitrated settlement was their preferred way to settle the contract dispute, which began on Oct. 12, and get students back to class.

“We believe negotiations are continuing and we are waiting to hear from the other side,” said Brandon University Faculty Association secretary Bill Paton. “We hope that will achieve the result we all want.

“The administration is on record that the term will be saved. Really, this term is extended into January now. But that’s their statement and it involves the university senate and that won’t meet until the faculty senators are back. It’s ridiculous that the board of governors won’t meet. That’s where the buck stops.

“In the 1998 strike, we met over the weekend and settled it in three days.”

Provincial government spokeswoman Rachel Morgan said Howard was “disappointed” with BUFA’s response.

“Our priority is to get students back into the classroom and will keep working on behalf of the parties to resolve this as quickly as possible,” Morgan said.

Brandon East NDP MLA Drew Caldwell said his office has been fielding many calls about the strike.

“I know everybody involved in this dispute,” Caldwell said from his constituency office. “I am listening to them all and observing the collective bargaining process and our government is participating as appropriate under the law.”

Caldwell, a BU alumni who walked the faculty picket line in 2008, added the government has acted as quickly as the law allows when encouraging conciliation, then mediation.

“It’s a big challenge for the institution and the community broadly speaking,” Caldwell said. “In 2008, it was consistent in that we received calls from all sides and on this issue particularly, you have the business community weighing in. You’ve got the labour community weighing in. You have the administration and management weighing in. You have BUFA members weighing in. My mom weighs in. Everyone has their perspectives.”

Caldwell, whose Brandon residence is near BUFA strike headquarters, said some of the striking faculty have dropped by for a chat but he has not walked the line this time around.

“It’s busy talking to people on all sides and I empathize with everyone’s concerns,” Caldwell said.

Meanwhile, Paton said the compromise with the Bobcats program allows coaches to supervise their players while on the road.

There are also safety and liability concerns as vans are rented to transport teams to road games. However, referring to coaches as an essential service — a required step that would allow them to coach and run practices — was not likely, as that designation must first come from administration, Paton said.

“At no time has the administration called coaches essential personnel,” Paton said. “Everyone wants to be considered essential, even me. But we obviously have obligations under the labour act. If the university wants to make that request, obviously we would consider it.”

That’s not good enough for the athletes, who say Brandon University is in breach of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport policy because coaches have not been available during games since the strike began.

“Responsible leadership is a priority in ensuring the full development of individuals as a whole,” the policy reads. “Inherent within the implementation of this principle is the notion of competence whereby personnel will maximize benefits and reduce risks to participants by being well prepared and current within the field of sport.”

Athletes say one example of a policy breach is having an acting coach who himself is a university student without a teaching degree, as well as provisions that demand the best team be put on the court at all times.

“It’s definitely hard because it adds to the stress levels that are already high because we haven’t had a coach for four league games and it will be six at the end of this week if we don’t get them back soon,” said Kellie Baker, a member of the women’s volleyball team. “That’s almost a third of our season, and it has not been a very good start.”

Chloe Reimer, also of the women’s volleyball team, said coaches are a necessary component to their success.

“He organizes our practices and sees individually what we need to work on,” Reimer said. “It feels like a piece is missing from the puzzle. We are all attempting to step up and be leaders, but our job as athletes is to perform. It’s not to be the highest form of accountability. That’s what a coach is for.”

Frustrated parents of Brandon University students requested a meeting with BUFA representatives to ask why arbitration was not acceptable to them.

“They told us they weren’t sure it would serve a purpose,” said Jeannie Robertson, a parent of BU students. “I was absolutely disappointed to hear that. This isn’t about picking sides. It’s about getting kids back to class.”

» kborkowsky@brandonsun.com