RAAS Report
Friday, January 27, 2023
Ann Dennis, Editor
PRESIDENT’S UPDATE
It has been a few months since our last RAAS Report and, as always, there are an overwhelming number of developments to keep track of. Suffice it to say that we are confronted with the complex pressures of high inflation and considerable financial strain in the aftermath of the pandemic, coupled with a provincial government that is showing its hostility towards public education, higher education in particular, and workers’ rights in general. I am thankful every day that we decided to form a union through which to not only assert our rights and our local priorities, but in so-doing to contribute to holding the line in our sector against accelerating neoliberal assaults on public education and higher learning.
You have likely heard by now that Bill 124, Ontario’s public sector wage restraint law, has been found unconstitutional following a Charter challenge by OCUFA and others. While this development comes too late to protect us from the cap on salary increases – we have already done our three years at 1% or less – this is an important victory for public sector workers and for collective bargaining rights more generally. The Ontario government vowed to appeal the decision, but there are indications that their intention to appeal may be waning. Time will tell. Read more here.
In the meantime, the Provincial government has introduced and passed a new law – Bill 26 – that targets university staff and faculty with some new and problematic measures in response to allegations of sexual misconduct on campus. While all parties applaud the stated objective of addressing sexual violence on campus, OCUFA (and others) have raised important questions about whether the law, as crafted, can actually do that in any meaningful and victim-centred way without undermining arbitration rights, due process, and appropriate discipline. Read more here.
On November 14-15 I participated in OCUFA’s “Advocacy Days” at Queen’s Park, where I joined a group of faculty association representatives who met with MPPs from the KW and Guelph area to being their attention to four key priorities. One priority was to keep some light on the Laurentian debacle, and specifically the need to enact measures to promote transparency and accountability in university governance. Second, encourage MPPs to pay attention to and start taking leadership on the issue of faculty renewal and fairness to contract faculty. Since 2009-10, the rate of increase in student enrolment across the province has been almost nine times that of faculty hiring, which has obvious impacts on the kind and quality of post-secondary education this province is able to offer. Third, we drew MPP’s attention to the problems with Bill 26 – then being introduced for second reading – and provided recommendations for how the law might be improved before being passed. And finally, we pushed on university funding, drawing on the finding that at $7,425 per student, Ontario’s per-student funding is a shocking 43% below the national average.
NDP MPPS were unavailable for our meetings. Green Party MPP from Guelph (Mike Schreiner) was supportive on all priorities. PC MPPs from Wellington-Halton Hills (Ted Arnott), Simcoe-Grey (Brian Saunderson), and Kitchener-Conestoga (Mike Harris) were polite – even friendly – but non-committal and disinterested. As a ‘bonus’, in the process of meeting with MPP Mike Harris, we all met Mike Harris senior as well (yes, the former premier), whom I had been talking about in my social policy course the day before in the context of his attacks on social assistance in the mid-1990s.
The OCUFA Board Meeting in December, which I attended representing RAAS, was another great opportunity to get a read on happenings in our sector and in other faculty associations. We also took time during the weekend event to celebrate some of the excellent teachers, scholars, librarians and advocates among us. At the meeting we adopted the following as OCUFA’s priority areas for the next four years:
A strong voice for university faculty and academic librarians
Sustainable public funding for public universities
Transparent, equitable, and collegial governance
Promotion and protection of good academic jobs
Here at RAAS, my focus has been primarily focused on listening to you, along with my negotiating team colleagues, to gather priorities and ideas for the upcoming negotiations of our second Collective Agreement. Some issues have emerged that require ongoing advocacy by the RAAS Executive, and we shall continue that work as well, but the Collective Agreement is certain to be our main focus for the next few months.
Rob Case
RAAS President
NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
Please be sure to join the Negotiation Mandate Meeting on Friday January 27 (1:00 p.m. by Zoom) for a discussion and confirmation of the priorities your negotiating team plans to take to the table on your behalf. We need to know that we are on the right track and this is the moment for RAAS members to give their official thumbs up. Check your outlook calendar for the Zoom link (ignore the Skype link).
On February 1, RAAS will be issuing an official “Notice of Intent to Bargain” to the administration. According to labour law, negotiations must then commence within 15 days. This is standard practice. Both Wendy and Kristiina are well aware that this is happening, and we have already begun to set dates for negotiations. So far we have scheduled weekly negotiation meetings, but both sides are open to finding additional meeting times if more time is required.
Our current Collective Agreement expires at the end of April. With mutual agreement, we can continue to negotiate beyond that time (the existing CA would remain in effect in the interim and what we agree to would then be retroactive to May 1), but I think both sides are motivated to get this all done before then.
We will keep you apprised of major developments as negotiations proceed through RAAS Reports and other avenues, and we will be consulting various groups of RAAS members between negotiation sessions (depending on the issues being discussed at the table). Regardless, we welcome your ideas and questions any time during the process, so please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Rob Case
Lead Negotiator
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE UPDATE
Several members of the Grievance Committee will be attending the annual Grievance Officer Orientation Workshop to be held on Thursday, February 9, 2023. The workshop is intended for grievance officers who are new or relatively new to their position, but is open to all members and staff of OCUFA member associations who are responsible for dealing with member complaints and handling grievances and arbitrations. A short report will be provided for the RAAS community in the February report.
Colleen McMillan
Grievance Committee Representative
BOARD UPDATE
The first Board meeting of new year took place on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Here are some highlights:
Faculty Representatives
Dr. Tracy Peressini is our newest Regular Faculty Representative to the Board, having started January 1, 2023. Thank you, Tracy, for your willingness to serve in this role. Also, special thanks to Dr. Jason Blokhuis for his service on the Board over the past year. Jason served with dedication and determination, always providing wise counsel and patient advice. We wish him the very best during his sabbatical leave and retirement.
New Board Members
We have three new external members to the Board: Asma Al-Wahsh, Jean Becker, and Neha Chugh.
Strategic Planning
All areas of the College will present Strategic planning updates soon. These reports will be compiled for review, and a strategic plan summary will be shared with the Board in March. Anita Taylor, Senior Director, Institutional and Strategic Priorities from UW’s Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism has agreed to facilitate our strategic planning process through an EDDIAA lens.
Sabbaticals
Motions were approved for 6-month sabbaticals for Drs. Craig Fortier and Christine Logel, starting July 1, 2023.
Next Meeting
February’s Board meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 6:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Edwin Ng and Tracy Peressini
Faculty Board Representatives
RAAS LECTURERS COMMITTEE (LC) UPDATE
1. Consultations of the RAAS LC working group with RAAS President
In January this year, the members of a small working group of the RAAS LC prepared some arguments in support of their two main negotiation priorities of lecturers at Renison. Subsequently, communications between this group and the RAAS President followed and are expected to continue over the process of current round of bargaining between the RAAS Negotiation Committee and RUC Administration.
FAUW LECTURERS COMMITTEE (LC) UPDATE
1. Support for sessional instructors at UW
The LC encouraged the FAUW Exec to prepare a statement of solidarity with the sessional instructors, who applied to certify with CUPE in December 2022. The certification vote was held on December 15 and 16, and the result was an overwhelming “yes” for certification.
2. Preparations for the FAUW Panel on Moving Forward to Mediation over P76-77 Development
In January this year, the LC held an exchange and debrief session in preparation for the FAUW panel related to the Policy 76-77 Drafting Committee and UW Administration moving forward to mediation. The LC prepared some potential questions to ask the panel, but also factored in time for questions from the floor. Subsequently, the panel meeting was run by the LC. Two FAUW Executive members participated as panelists, and the whole FAUW membership was invited. You can watch the P76/77 panel on Microsoft Stream here (UW login required).
As an additional related note, this FAUW blog can be helpful in understanding the reasons for UW FAUW & UW Administration moving forward with mediation over the revision of the two policies for teaching stream faculty: Policy 76/77 progress report as we head into mediation.
3. Co-operation with FAUW Equity Committee (EQ) on salary anomalies
Following the previous conversations and engagement with the EQ, the LC started preparing to meet the FAUW representative from the Salary Anomaly Working Group. In the previous years, along with the EQ the LC was involved in analyzing the UW data on salaries and preparing a report on salary anomalies.
OCUFA CONTRACT FACULTY COMMITTEE (CFC) UPDATE
1. Wrapping up 2022
In December 2022, the CFC summarized its annual engagements, including two annual workshops, each with a panel discussion. The committee also celebrated many settlements of OCUFA associations (such as UOIT FA, Lakehead University FA, St. Jerome's Academic Staff Association - Contract Academic Staff Unit, Algoma University Faculty Association - Part-time Unit, University of Western Ontario Faculty Association and others), which improved working conditions of contract faculty.
2. Planning activities for 2023
The CFC started planning its engagements for this year. The focus will be on supporting 13 association going into bargaining this year, organizing another Social Media Day of Action, typically held in February, and preparing the committee’s next semi-annual workshop.
Aga Wolczuk
RAAS Lecturers Committee Co-chair
Renison Representative on FAUW Lecturers Committee
OCUFA CFC Member
FAUW UPDATE
For the latest FAUW updates on Policy 76 and 77, and other FAUW updates, click here
SATIRE
Doug Ford moves to protect 1.8 million acres of urban sprawl from encroachment of Greenbelt
January 20, 2023, The Beaverton
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has passed legislation that will help protect precious low-density housing, winding streets, and majestic parking lots from the encroachment of the Green Belt.
NOT SATIRE
Are universities doing enough to address academic misconduct in research?
January 18, 2023, Michael Rancic, University Affairs
How are universities navigating academic misconduct issues when they arise, and do the policies that they have in place, work?
CAUT NEWS
CAUT Equity Conference
February 10, 2023, at 9:00am - February 11, 2023 at 5:00pm
Activism for Equity
February 10-11, 2023 – Delta Ottawa City Centre Hotel and Online
For more conference information and registration details, please click here.
OCUFA NEWS
RAAS is a member of the Ontario Confederation of University CAUT Associations (OCUFA), a province-wide association of our peers.
Niagara Falls bets on a new private university for economic growth
January 24, 2023, Moira MacDonald, University Affairs
In an effort to revitalize its long-neglected downtown core, the Ontario city has partnered with an international business group specializing in higher education.
Laurentian’s new interim president shares post-CCAA to-do list
January 19, 2023, Heidi Ulrichsen, Sudbury.com
Members of LU’s senate greet Dr. Sheila Embleton with words of welcome, but also air concerns following Laurentian’s long journey under creditor protection.
McGill files for judicial review against law professors’ union certification
January 17, 2023, Elena Lee, McGill News
On Dec. 6, McGill filed for a judicial review of the Nov. 8 Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT)’s decision to certify the Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL) as a union. The appeal came a day before the case-law deadline to file such an objection: If McGill wins its suit, the previous decision of the TAT judge will be declared invalid.
Afghan women are flocking to virtual learning amid Taliban’s university ban
January 16, 2023, Lexi Lonas, The Hill
Afghan women are finding avenues to pursue their education as the Taliban continues to crack down on women’s rights, recently banning female students from going to university.
Judges reserve decision after hearing Manitoba’s appeal of order to pay U of M union $19.3M
January 11, 2023, Josh Crabb, CBC Manitoba
Lawyers concede wage-freeze mandate impacted negotiations but say award should be capped at around $1.2M.
Mark Your Calendars!
Here is what’s happening over the next few weeks:
| ITEM | KEY DATE |
|---|---|
| RAAS Negotiating Mandate Meeting | January 27, 2023 |
| Course Release Application | January 31, 2023 |
| Deadline for Annual Reports | February 1, 2023 |
| Application deadline for Renison Grant | February 1, 2023 |
| OCUFA Grievance Workshop (online) | February 8, 2023 |
| CAUT Equity Conference (Ottawa & Online) | February 10, 2023, to February 11, 2023 |
