YUFA Executive

YUFA

Executive

JCOAA Report to the General Membership May 9, 2002

Routine Business
Towards Bargaining
JCOAA Sub Committee Status Reports

1. Routine Business
The routine business of JCOAA includes a large number and variety of issues relating to the administration of the Collective Agreement. Currently nearly 30 items or issues are open and under discussion. These issues include, for example, implementing the pay equity provisions, overseeing post-retirement benefits changes, overseeing and concluding agreement on the categorisation of "stipended" administrative positions. JCOAA discusses as well specific issues that influence workload (for example, changes in course or exam scheduling), and receives a variety of reports designed to render transparent compliance with the Collective Agreement. Finally, JCOAA is the venue through which the union receives financial information and contributes to the university's long range planning as it affects members of the bargaining unit. Neither the Financial Information Subcommittee nor the Joint Subcommittee on Long Range Planning has met in over a year. We are currently reassessing in what ways we might take advantage of the potential of these committees.

The full committee of JCOAA meets monthly. In addition, co-chairs meet and JCOAA-YUFA caucus at least once a month; thus one constituency of JCOAA or another is meeting weekly. To aid in the processing of routine JCOAA business, we have devoted some time recently to establishing a variety of mechanisms by which we may effectively track and process all issues brought before JCOAA.

Special Issues of Note:
YUFA, through JCOAA, is seeking to encourage earlier, active consultation by the Employer on issues of concern to YUFA members. Whereas the Employer may minimally meet reporting and notification obligations by submitting a Notice of a Change in Practice of set plans, it is YUFA's belief that active consultation at a much earlier stage will provide useful input and go some distance to improving labour relations. Nevertheless, the degree of consultation that occurs at what stage of the planning process still varies.

Parking: YUFA received mid-February a Notice of Change in Practice announcing a significant increase in parking rates to be phased in over the next 3-4 years. The plan to increase parking spaces and fund the expansion by increasing parking costs to university employees and students was derived in consultation with the President's Advisory Committee on Parking and Transportation (PACOPT) on which sit two YUFA members. The plan, when JCOAA saw it, was for information only--complete and ready to be sent to the Board of Governors for approval. Details of the Parking proposal will be available soon to members via the YUFA website.

Exam Schedule: although the Spring 2002 exam schedule includes weekend exams, the Employer has stated that this is a one-time-only occurrence. YUFA and the Employer are discussing currently issues of concern to members, including implications for workload. This consultation is paralleling and complementing the separate consultation currently being conducted by CCAS in co-operation with the Registrar.

Bi-Weekly Pay: the Employer is seeking the advisability of moving to a 2-week pay schedule. (Recent changes in law governing calculation of vacation pay etc. for other employee groups make the 2-week pay schedule preferable from an administrative point of view.) JCOAA has heard recently a presentation detailing the impact of this change on salary frequency and amounts. The Employer is seeking at the initial discussion stage YUFA input regarding the desirability of this change. This issue will be coming to Executive.

2. Towards Bargaining
Means by which YUFA seeks to protect the interests of members in this forum include working with the Employer to draft clear contract language on issues previously negotiated but in need of amendment or further clarification. For example, changes in the HRDC rules governing the appointment of non-Canadians have necessitated a review of the Affirmative Action language. In the process of appointing new faculty with tenure, YUFA has sought and gained assurances that reference letters in the appointment recommendation file address all three criteria for tenure (research, teaching, and service). Working with the Employer to agree on language to reflect these changes enables both parties to engage JCOAA in a process of framing contract language and policy in a way that aids bargaining.

3. JCOAA Sub Committee Status

Financial Information Subcommittee
Status: The committee has not met this year; ways to take advantage of the potential of this committee currently under review.

Joint Subcommittee on Long Range Planning
Status: The committee has not met this year; ways to take advantage of the potential of this committee currently under review.

Joint Subcommittee on Employment Equity
Mandate: To discuss issues with respect to the requirement of the Federal Contractors Program and the University's Policy on Employment Equity.

Membership: Brenda Hart (YUFA), Carl James (YUFA)

Status: (Please see separate Equity report.)

Joint Subcommittee on Student Electronic Contact
Mandate: To review issues, including workload issues, related to electronic (e.g., e-mail) contact between students and faculty.

Members: Jay Rahn (YUFA), Jean Saindon (YUFA), Barry Miller (Employer), Gary Spraakman (Employer)

Status: The first meeting was held January 15, 2002. At this initial meeting, YUFA and the Employer agreed that the Chair of SCOTL and the Director of CST would be invited to attend a future meeting. Subsequent meetings were held on January 30 and April 16. Invitees to the subsequent meetings were Elizabeth Watson (Chair of SCOTL), Rod Webb, Ron Sheese, Bob Gagne, and Avi Cohen (representatives from the Centre for the Support of Teaching). At these meetings, issues were identified and reviewed. YUFA plans to determine what problems remain most important for its members and the solutions its members prefer. A full report to the YUFA Executive is forthcoming.

Task Force on Inclusivity and Diversity
Mandate: To make recommendations to the parties regarding inclusivity and diversity of the faculty, including, for example, recommendations on whether to undertake a Diversity Audit.

Membership: Jody Warner (YUFA), Gill Teiman (Special Assistant to the President, Equity), Barbara Dodge (Employer)

Status: Currently holding focus groups.

Teaching Evaluation Sub-Committee
Mandate: To review process and policy regarding the content and recording of teaching evaluations.

Membership: Leo Davids (YUFA), Brenda Hart (YUFA), Walter Whitely (YUFA), Paul Axelrod (Employer), Louise Lewin (Employer), Barry Miller (Employer)

Status: The committee has met once to identify and discuss relevant issues. At a minimum, YUFA seeks agreement on the use of the teaching evaluation data collected by Senate per the Senate Policy on Student Evaluations. Committee members are in the process of exploring the possibility of developing a policy pertaining to related contractual issues.

Workload Committee (Special YUFA Committee)
Membership: Leslie Sanders (YUFA), Doug Freake (YUFA), Keith Aldridge (YUFA)

Status: The committee has met twice and proposes focus groups to gain greater clarity on the ways in which workload has increased.

Submitted by Brenda Spotton Visano (Co-Chair, JCOAA) on behalf of the YUFA-JCOAA members: Brenda Hart, Bob MacDermid, Amy Rossiter, Leslie Sanders, and Walter Whiteley
April 25, 2002