Union Bulletin #1. April 11, 2006
A Transition Point
After much study and discussion, UGFA Executive and Council believe that our relationship with the Administration has reached a significant transition point. We believe it is time to look for a more effective way for UGFA to represent faculty and librarians at the University of Guelph. At the Council meeting on April 6, a motion was passed, with overwhelming support, “That Council approve an immediate card-signing drive, with a view to certification of UGFA.” This is the initial step that is needed to bring UGFA under the Ontario Labour Relations Act, which would give us the advantage of formal tools to deal with issues and a process for resolving differences. This is not to suggest that we are mired in rancorous discord, but rather that we are encountering many situations, on diverse topics, for which it is difficult to reach satisfactory solutions in a timely and integrated manner.
Currently, the Special Plan Agreement(SPA) is our contractual agreement with the University Administration. The SPA and the Faculty Policies document govern terms and conditions of employment for faculty and librarians at the University of Guelph. However, the SPA provides little in the way of a dispute resolution mechanism. When we approach the administration with an issue, we go to “discuss”, not to negotiate. If agreement is not reached, then there can be no satisfactory resolution of the problem. In contrast, a collective agreement is not just binding in principle, but swiftly enforceable, under the Labour Relations Act, in a way that the SPA can never be.
Why unionize now?
UGFA representatives have been working hard, representing the faculty in numerous simultaneous discussions with the Administration, with respect to - possible changes to the long-term salary scheme (“the grid”), the Administration’s request to negotiate changes to Benefits, renegotiation of the SPA, and Faculty Policies. In some of those discussions, we seemed to be making a bit of progress, while “treading water” in others, and fighting hard not to lose ground elsewhere. UGFA representatives have become frustrated and discouraged not only with the slow pace of action on these issues, but also with the difficulties of coordinating decisions. Thus, UGFA intends to become your certified bargaining agent.
You will probably have many questions about this decision and its implications. A more detailed News and Views will be sent to you shortly, and in the meantime, we refer you to the UGFA web-page “Questions and Answers” regarding certification.
Membership meetings have also been scheduled for
Tuesday April 18 (McNaughton 113), 1:00 -3:30 pm;
and Wednesday April 19 (MacKinnon 031) 10:30-12:00 am
and Wednesday April 19 (Macdonald Institute MINS 300) 2:00-4:00 pm.
We will very soon be contacting you individually, and asking you to sign a card to certify UGFA as your bargaining agent.
The UGFA Organizing Committee.
Ed Carter, Glen Filson, Susan Hubers, David Josephy, Roz Stevenson