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Model Clause on Job Security, Seniority and Conversion for Contract Academic Staff

1
Seniority

1.1
Seniority shall be accrued on an institution-wide basis.  A contract academic staff member shall begin accruing seniority from the date of hire according to Article X (Appointments).

1.2
Seniority is retained for a period of three years following the termination of the last contract. Any member with seniority credits shall retain their rights under the collective agreement.

1.3
The employer shall maintain a seniority list which includes a member’s acquired seniority and the member’s status.  This list shall be updated at the beginning of each employment period and shall be communicated to the association one month later.

2
Right of First Refusal

2.1
Upon satisfactory completion of contracted work according to Article Y (Evaluation), the CAS member has the right of first refusal for any contract for which the member is qualified. Should the formal evaluation determine that the performance is satisfactory, the administrative officer shall award first refusal status to the member. 

2.2
If more than one contract academic staff member exercises their right of first refusal to a contract, the contract shall be offered to the candidate with the greater seniority.  In cases where the candidates have equal seniority, the contract shall be offered to the candidate who is most qualified for the position.  In cases where two or more candidates are equally qualified, the promotion of equity and diversity shall take precedent.

2.3
Members may exercise their right of first refusal up to and including a full-time equivalent based on the pro-rata model.

3
Continuing Appointment Status

3.1
After accruing at least six seniority credits for two years the contract academic staff member shall be granted continuing appointment status. This time shall be counted towards sabbatical leave.1

3.2
The contracts offered to a member with continuing appointment status shall include workload duties at least equal to the member’s average workload per year over the previous two years.

3.3
If the equivalent of a full-time teaching load is reached, the employer shall offer a full-time continuing appointment to the member. The member may choose to convert the appointment into a tenure-track appointment. The institution shall provide the necessary support for the member to be granted tenure.

3.4
The workload of a member on a continuing appointment status may be reduced at the request of the member without loss of continuing status.

3.5
Any member with continuing appointment status is entitled to a leave without pay for a period of up to two years without loss of seniority or continuing status.

Approved by the CAUT Council, April 2006.
Approved by the CAUT Council, November 2010.
Endnote
1. Previous experience should be taken into account when determining starting salary and eligibility for sabbatical leave and promotion.