Brandon U strike ends

A two-and-a-half week faculty strike at Manitoba’s Brandon University ended yesterday evening and students will be returning to classes Friday after the university and its faculty association reached a tentative agreement late Wednesday.

Neither side is releasing details of the agreement pending ratification.

According to the union, the major issues were pensions and a sexual harassment policy.

As the strike entered its third week, Manitoba’s premier Gary Doer offered to send the dispute to binding arbitration. The faculty association declined the offer last Friday.

As the third week dragged on, it appeared the two sides were further apart than ever. On Monday, talks between the two sides broke down and the university left the table requesting the dispute be sent to binding arbitration.

The university changed the final date for voluntary withdrawal to November 14, but does not expect to change the date of December exams.

The dispute involving 240 faculty, instructional assistants, and librarians effected 3,300 students.