Negotiations and Consequences

This is one in a 2016 series from the desk of the FSA Executive Director, Paul Reniers.

February 9th Edition

MLA Visit

Four members of the BC Official Opposition caucus, including leader John Horgan, visited BCIT as guests of the FSA on Friday, February 5.  BCIT President Kathy Kinloch join Horgan, MLAs Kathy Corrigan, Carole James, and George Heyman along with FSA President Teresa Place and Executive Director Paul Reniers.  A brief tour included stops at the Energy Oasis solar canopy with a presentation by FSA members Joey Dabell and Joe Newton, a review of the Guichon Creek restoration, and a demonstration of eye tracking technology by FSA member Craig Hennessey.  MLAs noted that the great breadth of practical innovation being undertaken by FSA members is an untold story about BCIT’s contributions to the province and that the FSA’s pride in its members is very well demonstrated.

Students in Research Issue Resolved, Temporarily

The FSA and BCIT have agreed to a Letter of Intent regarding applied research that will allow the parties to agree to use student employees in developmental roles for the remainder of 2016.  Under the LOI, the parties will pick up the discussion of research classifications that was undertaken during bargaining last year and attempt to move it to its conclusion while seeking the authority needed to implement the proposed changes.  If an agreement on the changes and progress toward implementation are not achieved by December 31, the agreement regarding student employees will end.

Layoff Notice in ABET

Notice was given to the Architectural and Building Engineering Technology department on Wednesday, February 3 of a 1 FTE layoff.  The reduction arises from the end of a partnership with the University of Bath to offer part of that institutions Masters degree here.  U.Bath has stopped offering the degree.  Under the arrangement, BCIT did some administrative work enroling North American participants in the program and hosting a residential portion of the degree.  Other programs in ABET are not impacted by the cessation of the Bath program, but the notice of layoff goes to the entire department and the entire department is responsible for attempting to address it.  BCIT has approached the FSA about possible alternative resolutions.

New Competition from Public-Private Partnership

Sprott Shaw College in BC has partnered with the Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Kitchener Ontario to offer Conestoga curriculum in BC through Sprott Shaw’s campuses.  Currently the programs are limited to Business Administration offerings targeting international students.  The joint announcement by the colleges emphasizes the potential for expansion.  Conestoga is also a member of Polytechnics Canada.

CAUT Calls to Exclude Education from Trans-Pacific Partnership

CAUT has joined the Canadian Teachers’ Federation and educational organizations around the world in asking governments to remove education from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.  The proposed agreeement would involve 12 Pacific rim countries in a deal comparable to NAFTA but perhaps more extensive.  Aside from the significant threat presented by the agreement to our public services, our ability to regulate business, and to intellectual property, the joint CAUT/CTF letter to the government cites the potential for the commercialization of education as a reason to seek changes to the TPP.  CAUT expects to meet with the government about this and other issues this month.  CAUT is an affiliate of Education International, which has co-ordinated objections to the TPP from educators in all participating countries.