OCUFA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COMMITTEE
MEETING OF APRIL 11 2014
WESTIN HARBOUR CASTLE HOTEL
1 Harbour Square, Toronto
Minutes
PRESIDING:
Peter Zimmerman, Chair
PRESENT:
Michael Lajoie, Algoma
Charles Burton, Brock
Marcie Jacklin, Brock
Jean-Marc Noël, CMC
Janice Scammell, Carleton
Scott Gillies, Guelph
Michiya Kawai, Huron
Moira Davidson, Lakehead
Rizwan Haq, Laurentian
Hilary Earl, Nipissing
Mark Crane, Nipissing
Geoffrey Hudson, NOSMFA
Bill Leeming, OCAD U
Michel Desjardins, Ottawa
Susan Fitzgibbon, Queen’s
Ian Sakinofsky, Ryerson
Susan Roll, Saint Paul
Steven Bednarski, St. Jerome’s
Reni Chang, St. Michael’s
Paul Downes, Toronto
Heather Diggle, Toronto
Susan Wurtele, Trent
Shirley Van Nuland, UOIT
Christine McLaughlin, UOIT
Lynne Taylor, Waterloo
Jim Davies, Western
William Salatka, WLU
Brian Brown, Windsor
Brenda Spotton Visano, York
Sue Levesque, York
Mark Rosenfeld, OCUFA Executive Director
Donna Gray, OCUFA Staff
Kimiko Inouye, OCUFA Staff
REGRETS:
Algoma FT, Brescia, King’s, Western L&A, WLU PT
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1. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS
Peter Zimmerman (Windsor) called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Each person
present was invited to introduce themselves.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Algoma/UOIT: THAT the agenda be approved as circulated.
CARRIED
3. A) APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 6, 2013
Algoma/Laurentian: THAT the minutes of the February 14, 2014 meeting be
approved as circulated.
CARRIED
B) BUSINESS ARISING
There was no business arising from the minutes.
4. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair of the CBC, 2014-15
Susan Wurtele (Trent) was acclaimed Chair of the OCUFA Collective Bargaining
Committee for 2014-15
Hilary Earl (Nipissing) was acclaimed Co-Chair of the OCUFA Collective Bargaining
Committee for 2014-15.
5. General Report of the Collective Bargaining Committee
Donna presented this report. She began with reporting that the final version of the
2012-13 faculty salary data from the Ontario Council of Academic Vice Presidents
(OCAV) had been distributed to Committee members. She noted that some of the
smaller institutions’ data was not included. She explained that institutions across the
country have been invited to participate in a national data exchange (via the National
Vice-Presidents’ Academic Council). Some of the smaller institutions have agreed to
participate. Donna encouraged all associations to ensure that their institutions
commit to the national exchange. She stressed the importance of continuity of data
from one year to the next.
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There was a question from the floor of whether OCUFA could encourage other
provincials to participate in the national data exchange. Mark Rosenfeld responded,
saying that OCUFA has been in touch with the Alberta and British Columbia
provincials, and will continue to encourage others to participate.
Donna then discussed the Ontario Universities Pension Symposium (organized by
the Council of Ontario Universities, May 6th at Wilfrid Laurier). She said that a notice
about the Symposium had been sent to the Committee, as well as to members of the
OCUFA Pension Committee and to local association Presidents. She noted the
relevance of the Symposium with respect to campus pension discussions in general,
as well as specifically for bargaining.
Donna then reported on two workshops – one being organized by the Status of
Women Committee and the other by the Grievance Committee. She said the Status
of Women Committee workshop (Feminist Transformative Leadership in the
Academy, May 23rd at the Westin Harbour Castle) is a half-day workshop, and the
cost per person is $75. She encouraged those interested to contact OCUFA staff
person Karen Wheeler for further details. She indicated that the Grievance
Committee workshop will focus on integrating issues identified as a result of Bill 168
(Ontario Health and Safety Act, prevention of workplace violence and harassment
sections).
6. Settlements
The UOIT teaching stream unit presented key challenges of its most recent round of
negotiations.
7. a) Bargaining Report by the Chair of the CBC
Peter referred to the written report in Part A of the package.
b) Bargaining issues roundtable discussion
Key issues raised included threats to job security as a result of program
prioritization processes, anticipation of employer salary proposals, scheduling of
courses and related accommodation, and arbitrator lists.
The Committee has agreed that further details of this item not be included in the
minutes.
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8. Key bargaining issues 2013-14
Donna gave a brief introduction to this session. She explained that the purpose was
for the Committee to identify a primary target for 2014-15, the intention being to stick
with one issue and work on it in depth. She gave the example of pensions being the
focus for 2013-14 – albeit pre-determined ahead of the first meeting of 2013-14. She
explained that after the target for 2014-15 is identified, an action plan for the year
would be developed in order to ensure progress. Donna then indicated that an initial
plan of action would be established in the Spring and Summer.
Donna referred to the memo in Part B of the package, which included a summary of
issues raised by units in bargaining or preparing to bargain throughout the year.
Peter then asked members of the Committee to review the memo and write down
their top three issues from the list provided. Peter, Hilary, Donna and Kimiko went
through the surveys and concluded that the top three issues were: insufficient
number of tenure stream hires; contract faculty job security; and online teaching.
Members of the Committee called attention to the first two issues (tenure stream
hires and contract faculty job security) stressing the importance of understanding
them as one in the same, and inseparable in general and within the context of a
campaign framework.
9. 2014-2015 Collective Bargaining Committee Planning Sessions
Donna began this session with a summary of the means by which collective
campaign goals could be reached. She referred to the “Toolbox” document in Part B
of the package which included a list of some of possible action items. She asked
members to consider what parts of the toolkit could make up an action plan for the
identified priorities. She noted that some components of the toolkit were initiatives
already undertaken, whether at the Committee level or locally. Overall, she pointed
out the need to identify goals from the issues, and then the actions required to
achieve these goals.
Donna gave some examples of action items already in practice, such as education
on members’ concerns and on specific issues, as well as combining resources for
external service providers. She highlighted several new action items not yet
undertaken, including the development of positions by the Committee, the
development of webcasts (e.g. on costing of proposals based on Hugh Mackenzie’s
work for OCUFA), media training, and the development of agreement language for
new issues.
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The idea of establishing and OCUFA Collective Bargaining Committee contract
faculty caucus was raised. Part of this proposal included starting a conversation
with CUPE on contract faculty issues, and establishing a relationship with CUPE’s
Ontario University Workers Coordinating Committee. Donna noted that OCUFA has
a good relationship with CUPE at the provincial level, and that OCUFA and CUPE
staff had met recently to discuss information sharing. Peter recommended that the
caucus include both contract faculty and tenure track/tenure faculty in order to
ensure that perspectives from both groups are included in discussions.
Another suggested action item was an annual “tips and tricks” session for new chief
negotiators. It was proposed that this session include, from each association, the
current/existing chief negotiator and a future negotiator. This would allow for a
means of succession planning and mentoring. The possibility of the session being a
shared cost between OCUFA and local associations was also raised.
On the issue of faculty complement, Donna emphasized the need to identify specific
goals. She pointed to OCUFA’s 2014 pre-budget submission recommendations,
specifically the proposal for 9,300 new full-time faculty hires by 2020. There was
also discussion on the existing work and campaigns at OCUFA, for example the We
Teach Ontario campaign, and the importance of integrating such work in order to
avoid duplication. There was concern raised that leadership for the complement
issue should be taken at a local level, and not solely at the level of the Collective
Bargaining Committee.
The review of existing information on faculty complement, and in turn, establishing
manageable goals and identifying next steps were recognized as the immediate
tasks.
10. Report of the OCUFA Executive and Board
Kate Lawson was not able to be at the meeting as she was at a conference. She
sent her regrets. Mark Rosenfeld reported on behalf of the Executive and Board in
Kate’s place. He began with the provincial budget, which he said was expected to
be tabled May 1st or 8th. Whether or not an election may be called, Mark indicated,
varies day-by-day based on polling. He explained that the Liberals are trying to craft
a budget that will have NDP buy-in, and is focused on infrastructure, job creating,
equity and fairness, and pensions. He also reported that the Ministry of Finance is
looking at the possibility of selling off crown corporations, including Ontario Power
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Generation, Hydro One and the LCBO. He also mentioned the Liberal plan to allow
for pension plans to invest more in infrastructure.
On higher education, Mark noted that other than for pension plans, changes to
higher education are not expected in the budget. He did indicate, however, that in
addition to the Strategic Mandate Agreement and program prioritization processes,
other government initiatives point to further attempts to influence academic planning.
He reported on two pieces of legislation – Bill 151 (the Strengthening and Improving
Government Act) and the Accountability Act (the Public Sector and MPP
Accountability and Transparency Act Bill 179). He explained that both are in the
second reading debate stage.
Mark explained that Bill 151 is an omnibus bill, the key concern for OCUFA being
that it may result in increasing access to information on faculty. OCUFA has met
with the NDP and communicated concerns to the Ministers of Training, Colleges
and Universities and Government Services. The key concern with the Accountability
Act is that it would extend the authority of the ombudsman to universities. Mark
explained that all three parties would support this bill in the name of accountability.
He said that OCUFA is seeking legal advice on the bill.
On the Strategic Mandate Agreements, Mark reported that OCUFA will post the
documents on a central sit, as well as include analysis for each. While details of the
full implications were not yet known, Mark flagged that changes to the funding
formula is a possible result.
On program prioritization processes, Mark indicated that these initiatives continue
at various stages across the province. He mentioned that the monthly conference
calls to share information and strategies continue.
On the Education and Mobilization initiative, Mark reported that 19 faculty
associations took part in the survey, and 3,300 responses were received – the
highest number of responses than any other OCUFA survey. Individual
associations will get their analysis, while all members will receive the aggregate
information. He also said that OCUFA staff Melissa Goldstein is establishing a
network of activities to hold monthly conference calls to exchange information and
ideas about local and provincial strategies. The first focus of the network may end
up being the election. He also mentioned that the We Teach Ontario video contest
winners are on the website.
Mark also announced that as part of OCUFA’s 50th Anniversary, there will be a oneday conference on October 24th, which will focus on the past, present and future of
faculty associations on campus.
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11. Developing a Pension Bargaining Strategy
Donna, Sue and Scott presented this session. This session was in camera. Donna did
note that a password secure site will be set up to post documents.
12. Other Business
There was discussion on what kinds of support the Committee could offer the Algoma
contract faculty unit, which held a strike vote in February, and was in conciliation. Donna
indicated that OCUFA staff Graeme Stewart could offer external communications
support, while a conference call with other members could be set up specifically to
address key issues.
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