November, 2005
From the President:
Terms and conditions of employment for faculty
Terms and conditions of employment for faculty are set out in our “Special Plan Agreement”. Legally this contract expires in September of each year and is automatically renewed unless one of the parties opts out. The plan can be amended by mutual agreement of both parties and this is done by the Joint Consultative Committee consisting of representatives of both the faculty association and the administration. Not renewing the agreement would result in a huge undertaking in terms of negotiating a new arrangement from scratch. The net effect has been the status quo. But now is the time to update it and bring it into the 21st century. We will be working hard to make substantial changes to the plan this year; so, now is the time to give us any feedback on what you would like to see changed. In the end the final changes will have to be approved by the administration and the faculty.
The university has reallocated Mary Childs to be the legal counselfor the university. She has met with some departments and has indicated she is available for advice on matters. Bear in mind that she is hired by the university and she gives advice from that perspective. If you have a conflict with the university on terms and conditions of employment, please contact the UGFA office and if necessary we will direct you to our lawyers.
What’s Going On? An Update .... UN-STRUCK:
Two unionized employee groups on campus, Steelworkers Local 4120 and CUPE 1334, were in the news in the late summer and fall, with potential strike/ lockout situations that would have affected the campus. The UGFA Executive was in contact with these fellow employee groups and monitored the situations closely. You did receive some information about how a potential strike might impact faculty, but we were happy that it was, ultimately, not needed. UGFA recognizes the important role all our university colleagues play in keeping the campus working well, and congratulates them on successfully concluding their contract negotiations.
With This Newsletter:
Two attachments come with this News & Views. One is ugFACTsheet #4, providing a thumbnail sketch of the University of Guelph organization chart. (Next ugFACTsheet will outline UGFA organization – but keen students can read ahead on the UGFA webpage ( http://www.uoguelph.ca/~facassoc/ - under “Membership Information”). The second attachment is the Reportof the Certification Review Committee, which is being circulated to all members for discussion.
Certification Review Committee Report:
A committee was established by UGFA Council following the General Meeting in April 2005, and instructed to review and report on the pros and cons of certification for UGFA. (For a thumbnail sketch comparing our Special Plan agreement with a union collective agreement, see last year’s ugFACTsheet #1, on the UGFA webpage.)
UGFA is the community voice for faculty and librarians at the University of Guelph in a number of employment areas. Salary and benefits negotiations are the most obvious, but UGFA is also involved in the development of policies that affect the terms and conditions of employment, in faculty development and working conditions, and in dealing with grievance issues.
In recent years, the academic workplace has become increasingly more complex, and external workplace legislation and practices continue to introduce new issues of concern to UGFA members (e.g. freedom of information, mandatory retirement changes). The UGFA Executive and Council recognize that we must examine the way in which we are representing UGFA members, and ensure that we continue do this effectively and well. We recognize some changes we need to make, whatever our operating structure is. For example, we need to make sure we adequately represent different sub-groups of our members, including those currently on contracts, and we likely should be receiving formal legal advice on many more issues than at present.
It is the desire to ensure that we can represent you in the very best way possible that led to the current review and report. Please do read this document and let Council know your thoughts on the issues presented (c/o facassoc@uoguelph.ca or UGFA Council, c/o University Centre 535, U of G). UGFA is also planning to host small group meetings to encourage further discussion by members.
Integrated Planning:
Faculty and Librarians are doubtless aware of some impacts of the strategic planning process called ”Integrated Planning”. Most recently, department and unit Chairs and Directors have been required to plan recurring 2% budget cuts, and design schemes in the hope attracting funds from the “Priority Investment” pot. Some units are also affected by realignments of departments within Colleges, and changes in course offerings. Considerable sympathy and commiseration has to go to department and unit leaders who have had to develop five-year plans and deal with the “on-the-ground” effects in a short, tight turnaround time – while still dealing with senior-level courses for the double cohort in senior courses and potential strikes!
Documents concerning Integrated Planning have been posted on the University President’s webpage at intervals, including the Operational Guidelines for the First 5-Year Plan 2006/07 – 2010/11, which was posted in September 2005. Departmental 5-year plans are to be developed by November/December 2005.
In these documents, considerable reference is made to dealing with budget realities (If you haven’t got it, you can’t spend it …and if you haven’t the space, you can’t use it). But the process of constructing Academic Plans at the college and operational unit level is also intended to be a consultative and inclusive process, and the planning a transparent process. At the October meeting of UGFA Council, there was discussion about whether plans being developed for departments and colleges were known to members of those units, and concern about the extent to which people in the units had been involved in the development. Strong academic and operational leadership from chairs, deans and directors is clearly needed for effective strategic planning. At the same time, it is important that individual faculty and librarians who deliver the academic programs not only know what the plan is, but are able to participate in its development and evolution.
UGFA Council asked that the UGFA President express some of these concerns to the Provost, which he has done. In addition, Council appointed a committee to request feedback from UGFA members on how Integrated Planning is being handled in departments and colleges. What’s been happening at your place? Tell us!
Health & Safety:
This is a new UGFA Standing Committee, intended to let us better represent UGFA members on matters concerning Health and Safety. Currently, there have been moves to re-organize the University’s Joint Safety Committee, which have presented concerns about adequate and effective representation of all employee groups. The plans have not been clearly described, and there are issues of how local Health & Safety Committees (e.g. departmental) will work with newly appointed EHS inspectors in reviewing workplaces. These concerns have been communicated to the director of EHS. In addition, as part of our continued effort to educate ourselves about our workplace, UGFA has arranged for a CAUT Training Workshop on the role and responsibilities of Joint Health and Safety Committees. This will be held Tuesday December 13th (1-4 pm) and Wednesday December 14th (9 am – 4pm). If you are interested in participating, please contact the Association office at x 52126 or facassoc@uoguelph.ca.
Negotiations On LTS&B and Benefits:
In the 2005-07 Memorandum of Agreement – which you may better recognize as “the salary settlement”- UGFA and the Administration agreed to establish two joint committees. One of these, the LTSB Committee (LTSB = Long Term Salary and Benefits), actually dates back to the 2003-05 negotiations, and is charged with examining possible changes to “the Grid”, among other things. The first of the meetings of UGFA and the Administration’s negotiating group was held November 10th. Professor Thom Herrmann is chairing the UGFA LTS&B Advisory Committee.
The second group established as a result of the 2005/07 Memorandum is a joint task group to review Group benefits, i.e. Extended Health, Dental and other benefits. The stated goal of the review is to “recommend changes that would result in reducing or constraining the costs of providing these benefits, while at the same time providing a comparable range of benefits”. An initial meeting of this group is scheduled fro November. Roz Stevenson (UGFA Counsellor) and Scott Gillies (Library) will represent UGFA.
Contractually-Limited Faculty:
UGFA Council recently adopted a set of Faculty Association Principles on Contractually-limited Faculty. As part of a continuing concern about how we can best represent these colleagues, the UGFA Executive will be meeting with some of the people who hold these appointments on November 15th, to identify issues and best strategies.
You Were Wondering?
- collegial
- marked by power or authority vested equally in each of a number colleagues; characterized by equal sharing of authoring sp. by Roman Catholic bishops.
(WEBSTERS)