Prince George, BC – A mediator is scheduled to meet with university officials and members of the Faculty Association at UNBC tomorrow, in a bid to help the two sides find their way to a collective agreement.

Pickets went up on March 5th, as profs and instructors pressed their demands for wage increases.  They were forced to suspend job action when the university announced late last Wednesday that it had applied to the Labour Relations Board to have a mediator appointed under a special section of the Labour Code that applies to parties working towards their first collective agreement.

LRB Information Officer, Guy Pocklington, says mediator Trevor Sones will sit down with both sides tomorrow.  Pocklington says, for now, just the one day is scheduled, but that could change.  He also says Sones’ obligation to report out in 20-days under section 55 could be extended if both parties are in agreement.

Sones has already been involved in efforts to help the two sides reach agreement, meeting with them over the course of several days in November, December and January.