Brandon College faculty poses on the steps of the Original Building. In picture: Jimmey Smith, Norman Todd, Evan Whidden, Professor MacGregor Fraser, Ruth Wade McLaughlin, Dr. John McLaurin
BUFA was formed in 1957 as an academic organization with its primary aim the entrenchment and protection of academic freedom.
In subsequent years, BUFA became more involved in promoting the economic, social and general interests of tis members. This process culminated in 1971 when BUFA obtained voluntary recognition as bargaining agent for its members from the University. The relationships between the Faculty and the university were governed by the "Faculty-Administration Brief" (the precursor to the present Collective Agreement).
A dispute arose between BUFA and the University in 1976, when BUFA requested that Instructional Associates be included in the bargaining unit and that the University deduct union dues. The University rejected BUFA's request. BUFA applied to the Manitoba Labour Board for resolution of the dispute. A Board hearing was held in Brandon on May 31, 1977.
At this hearing theLabour Board determined that, since the University had rejected BUFA's contention that it was a union, it would first have to answer the question: Is BUFA a union? In a decision dated June 16, 1977, the Board ruled "that BUFA is not a union; that following therefrom the faculty administration brief is not a collective agreement."
Following this ruling, BUFA launched a certification drive in September 1977. Application for certification was filed with the Labour Board October 17, 1977. In anticipation of a favorable certification ruling, Dennis Olson and Gerald Neufeld collected existing collective agreements from other universiities across Canada. They attempted to incorporate the best features from the old Faculty-Administration Brief and these other agreements into the first draft of the proposed collective agreement.
Certification was confirmed January 1978. The bargaining unit defined in the Certificate included: all full-time and part-time members of the academic, instructional and related staff at Brandon University kncluding laoratory insturctors, cartographers, counsellors, professional ibrarians, continuing education specialists and all other staff directly related to the teaching process. It also included sessional instructors.
Since certification in 1978, BUFA has attempted to function as a principled and effective union. These effors have included: establishing links with other unions and progressive organizations in the community; participating in the Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations; vigorously pursuing member and union grievancess through to arbitration; advancing the rights and interests of members at the bargaining table; and promoting and protecting academic freedom.
The most recent chapter in BUFA's history was a successful strike in 1998, which started November 9th and ended at midnight November 11th.
The general objectives of BUFA are the advancement of higher education through the protection of the freedom that is necessary to it, and the improvement of the standards of the profession of University teaching. Its members include all full and part-time instructional staff of Brandon University and professional librarians.
Officers of BUFA include the: President, Past President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Elected by the General Body at the annual meeting in March. Associate members are not eligible to serve as officers.
Executive - officers and four members elected by the General Body to represent the Faculties of Arts, Science, Education and Music. Four elected at annual meeting. Acts as liasion between BUFA and the University Administration. May appoint committees chosen from the General Body to carry on routine affairs and to act in areas of special interest as directed by the General Body of by the Executive. The Standing Committee of BUFA is the Salary and Faculty-Administration Relations Committee - its duties are to represent the interests of BUFA in negotiating the salary schedule and other benefits and the Faculty-Administration Brief with the Board of Governors or its represntatives. The Vice-President of BUFA is to be the Chairman.
Scope and Content
Series contains minutes, collective agreements, reports, recommendations, correspondence, memos, newsletters, reference materials and various other documents.
Notes
BUFA is a separate corporate entity, but for administration purposes it has been incorporated into RG 6 Brandon University fonds. History/Bio information taken from BUFA promotional materials (File 37) and provided by Bruce Forrest (BUFA Executive) with the return of the signed donation form. Files 106-116 were extracted from the BUFA records and are in the possession of Ms. Eileen McFadden.
Contains the following files:
9.1 Class list and lost alumni 1941-1948
9.2 "Spectrum" April 1944
9.3 "The Sickle" 1941-1945 (missing 1944)
9.4 Graduation programmes 1927, 1940-1952 (includes photo of Arts Banquet, Brandon College 1942)
9.5 "The New Era" 1947
9.6 Murray McPherson diary 1942
9.7 The Quill and The Sickle account book [1939-1941]
9.8 Brandon College documentation 1942-1943
9.9 Calendar 1940-1941
9.10 Murray McPherson's notes 1938-1939 (Brandon Collegiate)
9.11 Brandon College notes [1941-1944] (2 files)
9.12 Commencement programme 1944
9.13 Brandon College commencement programmes 1944, 1945, 1952 (also contains 1937-1938 Brandon College calendar and a copy of "S.J. McKee of Brandon College" by Tommy McLeod)
9.14 Physics notes [1942]
9.15 Murray McPherson - math and physics notes 1943
9.16 Murray McPherson - math notes 1944
9.17 Murray McPherson account book 1938-1940 (Brandon Collegiate)
9.18 Miscellaneous pamphlets re: Brandon College and hockey 1909 - ca.1945 (including Student Handbooks 1940-1944 and the 1913 convocation programme, the 1909 Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association constitution, pamphlets from The Boys' Brigade and a pamphlet with etiquette and manner advice for teenagers)
Notes
Part of the Alfred Angus Murray McPherson collection.