So much for avoiding brinksmanship!

What makes this whole strike thing so difficult for faculty: our students

Do you remember that warm and fuzzy e-mail that the University Administration sent out to all faculty and students immediately after the first information picket outside of Senate on October 19? The e-mail recounted how President Jack Lightstone had addressed Senate that day after walking through the information picket and among other things, had warned that he and the administration wished to avoid "a spiraling dynamic of 'brinksmanship' leading to an end that neither party wants and will do no one, least of all the students, any good."

Now, here is the e-mail I just received an hour ago from the President of BUFA regarding negotiations this week, right after the strike vote had been taken and a strike date announced:

"This message is intended to update all members on what has happened since the strike vote of Wednesday, October 25.

On Thursday, October 26, both sides met briefly with the conciliator, Mr. Herman Stewart, and together asked for a No-Board decision timed to put us in a legal strike/lockout position December 5 (the final date of mediation with Mr. Kevin Burkett is December 3).

Both sides have agreed to continue to negotiate, as before on Tuesdays and Thursdays, until December 5. However, this week the administration did not meet with us, so there were no negotiations. On one of those days two members of their team had other commitments, although it cannot help but make one wonder about their commitment to the negotiation process."

So with the announcement of 88% vote in favour of a strike and the announcement of a strike date barely a month away, how is it that two members of the administration's negotiating team have things to do more important than trying to avoid the strike?

Is this avoidance of negotiations not textbook brinksmanship?

Next week we are less than a month away from job action. Does it seem that the administration truly has the welfare of Brock students foremost in its thoughts?
I can't find a good answer for this one. Maybe President Lightstone can offer you a better answer by e-mail:

president@brocku.ca