Negotiations & Consequences

Negotiations & Consequences

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

August 31st edition

Municipal Pension Plan Reducing Post-Retirement Group Benefits

The Municipal Pension Plan (MPP) has announced changes to the group benefit package provided to retirees. The MPP covers FSA members aside from faculty and those on PTS contracts who may be covered by the College Pension Plan. Unlike pension payments, the group benefit package is not a guaranteed. The pension board has reduced the coverage based on an analysis of how the benefits have been used by plan members. Deductibles and co-payments are increasing, meaning all claims will cost more. The subsidized dental plan is being replaced with a non-subsidized plan. Drug coverage will also be somewhat limited. The MPP has also released its seminar schedule for the fall. The plan offers two seminars, one for new and mid-career plan members and one for plan members within      the last five years before retirement. It’s never too early to understand this significant benefit and how it will impact your retirement.  Dates of college plan seminars are expected soon.

FPSE Members Face School Closure Instead of a Contract

Members of the Education and Training Employees’ Association (ETEA) Local 9, an affiliate of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) showed up for mediation in the hopes of ending a 25 day long strike for a first contract with the privately run Vancouver English Centre. Instead of meeting with the employer, they were met with the message that the school was being closed. 45 ETEA members will be out of a job as a result.  Arbitrary actions such as this have encouraged EAL Instructors at a dozen private colleges to certify bargaining units with ETEA. FPSE is also calling on the provincial government to regulate private post-secondary institutions, citing the negative impacts on students as well as instructors.

Human Rights Code Extended to Gender Identity and Gender Expression

During the brief and highly unusual summer sitting of the provincial legislature, the government had two items of business: make it look like they are doing something about outrageous housing costs in Vancouver by blaming foreigners and back track on their refusal to protect people from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. After insisting that these protections were unnecessary, the government amended human right legislation to extend coverage to transgender individuals. Earlier this spring, the FSA board of directors undertook to develop an equity policy for the association.

CAUT Appoints Reviewer for FSA Membership Application

CAUT has advised me that Wayne Peters from the University of Prince Edward Island has been appointed to review the FSA’s application for membership.  Dr. Peters is an associate professor and a mechanical engineer who served as CAUT president from 2011-14. His review will involve examining the FSA’s constitution and by-laws, our collective agreement, membership profile, and ratification process to confirm that we are consistent with the requirements of membership in CAUT. Those requirements including being a democratic organization with goals and practices that are compatible with those of CAUT, that we demonstrate an commitment to academic freedom and tenure, and that we are the largest union representing instructors at our institution. All CAUT members in BC will be asked to comment on Dr. Peters’ report before it is submitted to CAUT’s general council for a decision in November.

CAUT’s Simple Plan for Federal Post-Secondary Spending

The Canadian Association of University teachers has already prepared its submission for next year’s federal budget. It recommends three specific actions: restore research funding to 2007 levels, create a Canada Post-Secondary Education Act to provide for dedicated transfers to provincial governments, and doubling funds available under the Canada Student Grants program to $6000 per student per year. The statement notes that recent funding moves to emphasize commercialization of research have undermined Canada’s competitiveness in research and development and seeks restored funding to non-targeted fundamental research. CAUT suggests that its proposed infusion of federal funds into provincial post-secondary programs should be used to address the reliance on contract academic staff, further helping to build the countries research capacity.

Employers Must Protect Workers on Social Media

An arbitrator in Ontario ruled this summer that an employer’s responsibility to provide a harassment free workplace under the province’s health and safety legislation includes protecting workers from threats and abuse through social media.  The landmark ruling found that the Toronto Transit Commissions @TTCHelp twitter account was ‘a forum for haters and abusers’. Although the arbitrator acknowledged that an employer can’t prevent offensive tweets, the TTC had failed to deal effectively with the abuse that staff were subject to. The arbitrator found that the employer should have asked users to delete offensive posts, asked Twitter to remove the posts, and blocked non-compliant accounts. Instead, the employer gave the offending posters information on filing formal complaints.

University Governance Conference Announced

The Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC (CUFA-BC), a CAUT affiliate, is organizing a national conference to address policy issues and best practices for collegial governance.  Schedule for March 3-4 at SFU’s downtown Segal Centre, there conference hopes to bring together faculty, staff, administrators, and government officials to discuss how the challenges of openness, accountability, and democracy can be met in the contemporary post-secondary environment.

Technology Industry Takes on BC Post-Secondary Policy

In a surprisingly confrontational move, leaders of several BC technology companies called out the provincial government for not doing enough to support technology education. The open letter to Premier Christy Clark notes that technology companies are fueling growth in BC, but they are being held back by the lack of available local talent. They call for a $100M investment in post-secondary technology programs, increased support for student co-op placements, and efforts to expand awareness of opportunities in the tech sector. The letter was signed by 18 senior officers of technology companies and organizations, including Hootsuite, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, SAP, and the BC Tech Association.

Unleash Your Inner Organizer

The US publication Labor Notes has produced a practical guide to workplace organizing. Intended to help workers do more than just get a union, Secrets of a Successful Organizer also provide guidance on engaging and mobilizing colleagues to make change happen around particular issues and within unions themselves. Several handouts have been made available free online, covering practical topics like how to be a good listener, mapping your workplace, and identifying issues to organize around.