Union bullies Canadian university to continue COVID-19 mandates

Ontario-based Brock University will continue to impose its mask and vaccine mandates into the summer after significant pressure from the faculty union, despite the province having lifted COVID-19 mandates. 

While other Ontario universities such as McMaster University and Niagra College will be ending their COVID mandates at the end of April or beginning of May, Brock has announced that theirs will remain in effect. 

The university cited COVID-19 as the reason for the continued mandates, given “current evidence of increasing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.” 

“Brock’s top priority remains the health and well-being of the campus community,” said Lynn Wells, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “Public health measures such as vaccine mandates and wearing a mask when indoors allowed for a successful and safe return to campus in the fall, and we’ll continue to rely on these measures beyond the Winter Term as we assess the public health situation in the region and across the province.” 

In response to this decision, Liberal MP Chris Bittle tweeted “Smart move by Brock University”. The tweet invited a volley of responses saying that it was the Brock University Faculty Union (BUFA) that is responsible for the decision after placing high pressure on the school’s administrators. 

“I think you mean smart move by @BUFABrock (Brock University Faculty Association),” said Professor Larry Savage. “Give credit where credit is due. Too often employers only do the right thing when pressured.” 

“Brock only did the right thing now and last fall under tremendous pressure from very vocal people and the union,” tweeted Professor Christine Daigle. “Thanks @BUFABrock for this much needed settlement!” 

“With a little push from the faculty union,” Professor and BUFA Member-At-Large Liz Clarke replied to Bittle. 

“More than a little ;-),” added BUFA Grievance Officer and Professor Alison Braley-Rattai. 

When the union heard that the university was planning to lift the mandates, it filed a grievance claim and forced the administrators into arbitration. 

Despite Omicron being universally recognized as a milder strain than Delta, the BUFA said “the plan, much of which was put in place to address the reality of the Delta variant, was insufficient in the Omicron environment.” 

After the arbitration, it was decided that not only will the mandates continue, but should the school’s administrators ever want to lift them, they must first ask permission from the BUFA. 

The BUFA also demanded that Brock University sponsor KN95 masks to BUFA members and “any member of the Brock community (including students).”