YUFA
Executive
YUFA Executive Meeting Summaries 2009-2010
by Louise Ripley, Communications Officer
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
Meeting Business:
A. Hilliker reported that the Provost confirmed in Senate that the majority of faculty appointments would be in the professorial stream and that full-time appointments would include professional librarians. A. Hilliker pointed out in Senate that the YUFA Collective Agreement includes provisions concerning Academic Freedom with which President Shoukri’s group’s discussions must be consistent.
A. Hilliker reported on the meeting with President Shoukri and Jim Thomas. The Administration will hold a workshop for Deans regarding working in a unionized environment. At the meeting, A. Hilliker pointed out that the Financial Planning Subcommittee of JCOAA is the appropriate venue for the Administration to discuss budget issues with YUFA.
M. Kandiuk will bring to the incoming Executive details concerning the draft proposal to revise the Constitution and By-laws, including timelines. M. Kandiuk will also bring the nominations for Dispute Resolution Committee appointments for email approval by early June.
A. Hilliker reported that there was a voters’ list for the recent YUFA elections. H. Bishop reported that included in each of its messages to YUFA members was an invitation to the relevant constituency to attend the live results meetings, but CNS will not reveal who voted because of CNS’s confidentiality policy.
A. Hilliker reported that he has not yet received a reply from YUSA concerning the establishment of the YUFA / Employer Committee on Pensions, as provided in the Collective Agreement.
Items for Action:
Executive approved L. Ripley and Lorna Erwin as YUFA’s Trustees for the CAUT Defence Fund, with Kym Bird as an Alternate.
CLA Policy Grievance. Motion: That the Policy Grievance concerning the CLA appointments practice in the LA&PS proceed to Arbitration. Approved.
President – Arthur Hilliker
A. Hilliker reported that since the 24 March meeting of Executive, he has received no response from Jim Thomas, re the Third Party Initiative concerning labour relations at York University. He noted that there are provisions within the Collective Agreement for discussing many of the issues raised at the Third Party Initiative.
A. Hilliker reported that he proposed to meet with the President of YUSA concerning the York Pension Plan. The Employer will propose no changes to the Plan until the FSCO dispute is resolved. In any event, the Employer would have to talk to the All-University Committee on Pensions and the Pension Trustees before proposing any change. A. Hilliker reported that he spoke to G. Brewer and B. Miller and that they want YUFA to be a partner with the Employer concerning changes to the Pension Plan. This would involve setting up an Article 14.01.d committee. A. Hilliker will consult with YUSA concerning, e.g., the possibility of YUSA having observer status.
Motion: That a call go out via YUFA-M inviting all YUFA members to submit their names for the 3 positions as CAUT Defence Fund Trustees. Approved.
A. Hilliker will raise in Senate the fact that the White Paper mentions an increase in faculty complement but is unclear whether this would include professional librarians.
Vice President External: Livy Visano
L. Visano reported that the draft METRAC report was received last Wednesday. An Executive Summary will be received in April, followed by a meeting with the Vice Presidents and then with the community with the public document.
L. Visano will report to Executive at the next meeting concerning the possibility of YUFA support for the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG).
Equity Officers: Rose Steele & Didi Khayatt
R. Steele reported that a motion will be presented at an upcoming Executive meeting concerning the relationship between the Caucuses and other bodies of YUFA.
Communications Officer: Louise Ripley (in absentia):
Online updates to the FAQs concerning the Collective Agreement are being prepared and are roughly two-thirds complete.
Motion: That YUFA publicize via YUFA-M the OCUFA Workload and Quality Matters surveys. Approved.
Chief Stewards – Suzy Young & Bernie Lightman
Executive received the draft guidelines and procedures for Stewards’ Council, prepared by B. Lightman and R. Steele.
J. Rahn noted that in Constitution 4.1 ‘organizing plans’ might refer to projects not already included in the Executive’s Workplan, and that in the section ‘Debates and Votes,’ voting should be inserted before Council in the heading (1) and in clause 1(a).
Stewards reported on grievances.
Treasurer – Ray Rogers
R. Rogers will circulate a report concerning Executive course releases on YUFA-M. R.
Rogers will compile with Lorna Erwin a report on the Community Projects.
Association for Retired Faculty and Librarians – Alex Murray
A. Murray reported that fund raising for the retirees conference in Toronto has exceeded its goal.
Other Business
M. Kandiuk reported that access to UofT’s Robarts Library for York faculty and librarians who have paid $200 expires at the end of 2009-10. To date, there has been no response from CAUT concerning this problem. Executive members suggested approaching OCUFA, COU, AUCC, and the Ministry.
B. Lightman noted that a Dean has disciplined a faculty member for undertaking teaching outside Canada while on sabbatical. Executive members observed there is ample precedent for teaching while on sabbatical.
The question of divesting from Sun-Life was raised.
President – Arthur Hilliker
Motion: To approve funding for the Retirement Planning Centre in the amount of $9,738 for 2009-10 (according to Article 14.06). Carried.
R. Steele detailed recent communication with a YUFA member concerning Stewards’ Council representation of Equity Studies and Women’s Studies, which have, respectively, 9 and 13 full-time faculty. I. Kovacs suggested that when a Subcommittee to review the By-laws and Constitution is established, a majority of its members not be members of Executive. S. Young will provide the Recording Secretary with a copy of several suggestions. A. Hilliker will inform the member who wrote that there shall be a review of the Constitution and By-laws and members will be consulted. A. Hilliker and R. Steele will consult before the next Executive meeting concerning other issues raised in the member’s communication.
Motion: That Executive approve the YUFA Trustees’ Annual Report for 2009-10. Carried.
YUFA's Legal Counsel, Cathy Lace, will hold a seminar concerning Bill 168 and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in April.
Vice President External - Livy Visano
Motion: That YUFA provide $125 for registration at the OFL-CLC Pension Summit to each of no more than 10 YUFA members and that, if there are more than 10 applications for this support, they will be assessed by the Vice President External, an Equity Officer, and the Treasurer. Carried.
Motion: That YUFA provide $45 to each of an unlimited number of YUFA members for registration at the Toronto & York Region Labour Council’s 8th Annual Workers of Colour / Aboriginal Workers Conference, 8 May 2010. Approved.
Motion: That the Communication Officer consider topics for communication to YUFA members concerning aspects of the Collective Agreement that are not widely known by members. Moved by: S. Young; seconded by: I. Kovacs. Approved.
Motion: That YUFA host an annual workshop for Chairs of units. Carried.
Chief Stewards – Suzy Young & Bernie Lightman
Motion: That Executive approve the policy grievance concerning the LA&PS Dean’s specification of CLA hirings, including details of workload, service / research remissions, and salary. Carried.
Equity Officers – Rose Steele & Didi Khayatt
R. Steele recounted recent discussions with the Race Equity Caucus concerning the criteria and procedures for choosing members of the Equity Subcommittee and observed that this information had been sent to all the Caucuses.
R. Steele brought to Executive’s attention a proposal from the Equity Subcommittee for course release.
Motion: That Executive recommend that the Equity Subcommittee develop a proposal for the next round of bargaining concerning course release for extraordinary service for minority representation and other activity that promotes equity. Carried.
Treasurer – Ray Rogers
Motion: That Executive approve the Draft 2010-11 Budget. Carried.
Association for Retired Faculty & Librarians – Alex Murray
A. Murray reported on a meeting with Vice President Academic Monahan concerning retirees’ compensation for graduate supervision. York’s Centre for Human Rights said it could not take on study of ageism with regard to retirees. ARFL members are concerned that support for conferences is not available to retirees through Professional Expense Reimbursement if they are not listed on the conference agenda. Flaws in the Faculty of Graduate Studies Consultation Documents are another ARFL concern: these include conflicts with actual practice. ARFL will propose at an upcoming meeting that a YUFA Executive member attend the CURAC conference this Spring.
Correspondence Received
Executive received a proposal from a member concerning the reporting of grievances at Annual General Meetings. Executive agreed that the Personnel Committee will consider the implications of such reporting for the workload of YUFA Staff workload and that the Grievance Committee will be consulted concerning revisions to the proposal.
Other Business
Concerning the nomination period for stewards representing Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies units, A. Hilliker will circulate to the affected faculty members a brief communication concerning YUFA’s past practice and Executive’s plan to clarify 4.3.c of the Constitution and 1.a of the By-laws.
Email Motion
Motion: To affirm that the motion concerning the letter to PM Harper and Minister Stahl regarding support for First Nations University was passed since the 10 March meeting. Carried.
President – Arthur Hilliker
Executive discussed the propriety of using the terms ‘Employer,’ ‘Board of Governors,’ ‘Senior Administration,’ and ‘Agents of the Employer,’ e.g., in communicating with the membership / Senate.
Chief Stewards – Susie Young & Bernie Lightman
Executive agreed that B. Lightman, in consultation with other members of Executive, e.g., R. Steele and S. Young, draft a document for new stewards concerning procedural aspects of Stewards’ Council, including relevant provisions of Bourinot’s Rules of Order. It was suggested that the Constitution be amended to take into account the lack of availability of this publication’s 2nd edition.
M. Kandiuk reminded Executive that Leslie Sanders is handling the issue of Teaching Load Documents at Long Range Planning. A current status report on TLDs will be submitted to Executive for its next meeting.
It was suggested that a database of YUFA members’ complaints and grievances be compiled and made available to YUFA members.
Other Business
The FSCO Tribunal will rule in 2 months. Consequent to this ruling, YUFA or the Employer might appeal further.
Correspondence Received
A. Hilliker reminded Executive that the Collective Agreement assigns issues concerning labour-relations aspects of academic planning to JCOAA and that Executive discussed the LA&PS Framework issue as such.
President – Arthur Hilliker
Discussion was held regarding the use of Bourinot’s Rules of Order to facilitate timely meetings. At times when YUFA Executive is present at quorum and an amendment is proposed to a motion brought forward to Stewards’ Council from Executive, Executive may caucus on whether or not to accept the amendment. Further discussion was held about By-law 7.
Concerning President Shoukri’s invitation to YUFA Executive, it was agreed that Executive needs to know what the Employer intends to accomplish before meeting again with President Shoukri. To this end, two Executive members, A. Hilliker and L. Visano, will have a preliminary meeting with President Shoukri and Jim Thomas to determine the Employer’s intentions and will report to Executive as a whole for direction concerning the meeting President Shoukri requested in his letter of 7 December 2009.
In view of its potential implications for the Collective Agreement, JCOAA is considering the LA&PS Strategic Plan. C. Ehrlich agreed to send the Strategic Plan draft to Executive. In the meantime, it is being discussed in open forums before proceeding to LA&PS Council and Senate APPC.
Motion: That the Spring Annual General Meeting be held 12 April. Carried.
Motion: That Executive approve the rationale for and the amendment to By-law 7. Carried.
Motion: That the Vice President Internal and the Chief Stewards resolve any substantial discrepancies between the numbers of home-unit members listed for Representative Groups in the rationale and amend the rationale as necessary before it is submitted to the next Stewards’ Council meeting. Carried.
Vice President Internal – Mary Kandiuk
Executive appointed H. Thomas Wilson and Daniel Perlin to the YUFA Equity Subcommittee.
Executive approved the recommendation that Melanie Cao, Barbara Cameron, Penni Stewart, and Rene Fournier be appointed as YUFA representatives to the Joint Subcommittee on Tenure and Promotion.
Vice President External – Livy Visano
Motion: That YUFA continue support of OCAP. Carried.
In response to Executive members’ requests, L. Visano will take up with OCUFA the issue of the University of Toronto’s new library fees and with CAUT, OCUFA, and the Metro Labour Council the issue of Canada’s secret negotiations concerning the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
Chief Stewards – Susie Young & Bernie Lightman
Motion: That the agenda for the 5 February meeting of Stewards’ Council be approved with the following amendment: that Ratification of Appointments to the YUFA Equity Subcommittee and the Joint Subcommittee on Tenure and Promotion be added as an item after By-law #7. Carried.
A number of motions were passed to move grievances to arbitration.
Equity Officers – Didi Khayatt & Rose Steele
R. Steele reported that the Race Equity Caucus is preparing a motion or proposal for consideration by Executive.
The need for early development of Equity proposals for the next round of bargaining was stressed. The Equity Subcommittee plans to prepare a proposal concerning, e.g., teaching release for specific equity-related tasks that could be submitted to the Workload Committee.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act will be sent to the Personnel Committee.
Treasurer – Ray Rogers
Treasurer R. Rogers will prepare a Spring budget. Accordingly, an Annual General Meeting will have to be held in the Spring. It was noted that there is no Constitutional impediment to such a meeting (Article 3). Footnotes to the Budget will be included for electronic voting and it was suggested that a summary of grievances be prepared for the AGM. Ways of improving AGM attendance will be discussed. As simultaneous food service increases attendance but also causes difficulties, it was suggested that lighter fare be provided for the Spring AGM.
ARFL Representative – Alex Murray
A. Murray will recruit a YUFA Returning Officer from among ARFL members.
Other Business
H. Bishop will forward to L. Sanders, Co-Chair of Long Range Planning, a request for a reminder that Workload Documents are due 15 January.
Correspondence Received:
M. Kandiuk and A. Hilliker will consult concerning the Returning Officer for the upcoming stewards election.
Business Arising From the Minutes
M. Kandiuk reminded Executive of the scheduled meeting with President Shoukri and Vice-President Academic and Provost Monahan.
A. Murray asked about the urgency of someone from ARFL coming forward as Returning Officer. M. Kandiuk responded that the issue is somewhat urgent insofar as she is Acting RO as well as being Acting President for the time-being.
Motion: That Executive determine the implementation of Stewards’ Council representation with respect to the recent amalgamation of Atkinson and Arts on the basis of the names and numbers of units and YUFA members affected by amalgamation with a view to elections of stewards to Stewards’ Council in each of the Liberal Arts & Professional Studies units. Carried.
Motion: That the Vice-President Internal, and as appropriate, the Chief Stewards consult with the two new LA&PS units (Equity Studies and Communications Studies) that have fewer than 15 home-unit YUFA members. Carried.
Mary Kandiuk has posted a proposal for revisions to the Constitution for placement on a future agenda. M. Kandiuk has compiled a list of outstanding vacancies for Stewards’ Council, including those subject to the coming election.
President – Arthur Hilliker, Mary Kandiuk standing in
Executive agreed on a list of non-labour relations topics to be raised by Executive members at the 25 November meeting with President Shoukri.
M. Kandiuk reminded Executive that the meeting of Executive with Jim Thomas and President Shoukri will be held on Wednesday 2 December 2009 and Executive will discuss labour-relations issues considered at the 24 October 2009 meeting.
Motion: That Executive approve and endorse changes to Pension Plan resulting from the CUPE 3903 settlement. Carried.
Vice President Internal – Mary Kandiuk
Motion: That the Vice-President Internal confirm to Stewards’ Council that the final framework on Workload will be brought to the YUFA membership to be ratified by all YUFA members. Carried.
Motion: That the process for nominations to Joint YUFA / Employer committees be adopted. Carried.
Motion: That Executive appoint Amin Mawani and Eve Haque to the Research Development Fellowship Committee and Tamara Kelly to the Teaching-Learning Development Grants / Release-Time Teaching Fellowships Committee. Carried.
M. Kandiuk will follow up concerning possible nominations for the remaining TLDG / RTTF Committee position. If there are a larger number of applicants than the number of vacancies for particular appointments, Executive will review the statements of interest.
M. Kandiuk reported that nominations for the 2010-12 terms of YUFA Executive Officers are being posted as they are received.
M. Kandiuk said there is a need for a future discussion of electronic voting. In the meantime, M. Kandiuk has approached www.evote.ca, which is the only third-party Canadian company that provides infrastructure for electronic voting.
Motion: That Executive approve electronic voting for the upcoming election of Executive Officers. It is understood that this will cost the Association $3500-4000, depending on how quick a turn-around is required for this round of elections. Carried.
Vice President External – Livy Visano
Motion: That Executive authorize support for one of YUFA’s CAUT Defence Fund Representatives (currently, L. Ripley and Kym Bird) to participate in the protest against unpaid days at Lakehead University 20-24 December 2009. Carried.
Executive deferred consideration of support the upcoming (May 2010) CURAC Conference, with the prospect of an email vote. It was suggested that the Treasurer, R. Rogers, indicate the amount of money available for such larger requests.
Executive deferred consideration of support for the All-University Unions petition, with the prospect of an email vote.
L. Visano will provide information concerning the upcoming CAUT conference and requests for funds.
Chief Stewards - B. Lightman & S. Young
YUFA is awaiting a revised legal opinion with respect to the FSCO complaint.
JCOAA Standing Report
M. Kandiuk reported considerable progress on outstanding issues since JCOAA’s previous meeting.
JCOAA has agreed to a memo being sent to the Dean and units of LA&PS concerning the status of existing workload documents and new workload documents, including relevant timelines and dates. As well, such a memo will be going out to other Faculties and units.
M. Kandiuk reported that the Inclusivity / Diversity Survey should be available in a few days.
In response to the Chief Stewards, M. Kandiuk said that intradepartmental inequities will be taken to JCOAA.
Equity Officers: D. Khayatt & R. Steele
Motion: That By-law 3 be changed as follows: change ‘Chairs of recognized caucuses’ to ‘Chairs (or delegate) of recognized caucuses’; change ‘at least five’ to ‘two (2)’; change ‘one year, renewable for two one-year terms’ to ‘two (2) years, renewable for one (1) two-year term.’ Carried.
M. Kandiuk indicated that Leslie Sanders will inform Stewards’ Council about a letter that will be sent concerning the 15 January Workload deadline.
Order of the Day
Jim Thomas (President’s Third Party Initiative) gave an overview of the process so far of consulting with York unions as to their views on why there has been labour unrest at York. Twelve of the last fifteen cohorts of students have had their educations disrupted by strikes. There was a roundtable discussion where each member of the executive provided their views on labour issues.
Business arising from the minutes of 23 September 2009
M. Kandiuk reported that A. Hilliker has drawn Executive’s attention to possible consequences of a medical school at York for YUFA’s membership and the location of such a School (e.g., on or off York’s Keele campus).
Acting President / Vice-President Internal – Mary Kandiuk
M. Kandiuk invited comments on how the meeting with the President should be structured.
There was discussion of the appointment process for the Joint Long-Range Planning Committee on Workload. There were 8 applicants of whom the members appointed were: Brenda Spotton-Visano, Susan Dimock, Scott Forsyth, Patrick Taylor, and Lewis Molot.
Motion: Approve the Draft Financial Statement. Carried.
Motion: Move $100,000 from cash reserves into an investment situation. Carried.
Motion: Send a representative to a CAUT Defence Fund Action Day at Lakehead University. Carried.
Executive agreed that M. Kandiuk will contact the Association of Retired Faculty and Librarians (ARFL) via Alex Murray concerning the possibility that a member of ARFL would serve as YUFA’s Returning Officer.
Vice-President External – Livy Visano
L. Visano reported on the recent OCUFA Board meeting. L. Visano emphasized that University Employers in Ontario have attempted to lock out faculty as a form of ‘Rae days,’ and that Province-wide concerns include a possible increase in credit transfers between Colleges and Universities, the amount of teaching at satellite campuses, the proportion of funding provided by student fees, and internationalization.
Motion: That registration ($325) only be paid for up to 3 members to attend the OCUFA Conference called Financing Higher Education in the Current Economic Climate, 22-23 January 2010, Sutton Place Hotel, Toronto. Carried.
Treasurer - Ray Rogers
R. Rogers presented an updated budget. He explained that a current shortfall is explained by the delay in dues increases following bargaining (the period of 1 May to following ratification), as well as the fact that quite a few course releases have been cashed in suddenly.
President – Arthur Hilliker
Executive agreed that, if the tentative settlement is ratified, Executive will solicit comments on President Shoukri’s proposed Third-Party Initiative re labour relations at York University (Jim Thomas, facilitator) from the 2009 Bargaining Team, YUFA’s Chief Stewards, and the YUFA Caucus of JCOAA.
Motion: That Executive appoint Brenda Spotton Visano to represent YUFA on OCUFA’s Collective Bargaining Committee. Carried.
Motion: That Executive consideration of future unit representation on Stewards’ Council be deferred until Executive receives the report of the Subcommittee on YUFA’s Constitution and By-Laws. Carried.
Executive agreed to develop an agenda of concerns for a meeting to be scheduled with President Shoukri and senior administrative colleagues, as per Article 7.07.
Motion: That Jim Thomas, head of the Third Party Initiative regarding labour relations at York University, be invited to attend the 28 October Executive meeting. Carried.
Motion: That Executive specify topics to be discussed with J. Thomas at its next meeting, 14 October, and that a report of the current Grievance Committee and recent Chief Stewards be prepared for the 28 October meeting with J. Thomas. Carried.
Motion: That L. Visano report to Executive on the All-Unions Committee’s response to President Shoukri’s Third Party Initiative. Carried.
Vice-President Internal – Mary Kandiuk
Executive appointed John Bell and David Doorey to the Dispute Resolution Committee, and appointed Michael Gilbert to the Retirement Planning Centre’s Advisory Committee.
Vice-President External – Livy Visano
Motion: That YUFA support the Centre for Social Justice’s 12th Annual Retreat in the amount of $1,000.00 to subsidize the attendance of low-income people, subject to the receipt of a budget deemed adequate by the Vice-President External. Carried.
L. Visano reported that, following up on the 11 May 2009 Executive motion, two applicants responded to the call for delegates to attend the CAUT Librarian Conference “Negotiating for Parity”.
Equity Officers – Didi Khayatt & Rose Steele
D. Khayatt and R. Steele reported on a suggestion to change the membership of the Equity Committee.
Communications Officer – Louise Ripley
L. Ripley reported that 25-Year Service pins will again be distributed to members at the upcoming AGM.
Treasurer – Ray Rogers
Motion: That Executive approve the 2009-10 Budget. Carried.
Motion: That the Compensation Committee consider YUFA’s policy concerning the banking of course releases for YUFA work. Carried.
ARFL Standing Report – Alex Murray
In response to a query from A. Murray, A. Hilliker suggested that ARFL contact YUFA’s Equity Committee concerning the possibility of ARFL being represented on Stewards’ Council as a Recognized Caucus. It was noted that those ARFL members who are engaged in post-retirement teaching are already represented by their units.
A. Murray noted that ARFL would like the list of those who retired in December 2008 (approx. 28 people) and those who retired in July 2009.
Order of the Day
K. Saravanamuttu, YFS President, made a brief presentation asking for Executive’s support re the 5 November Day of Action and YFS’s 24 September Senate proposal for an academic amnesty on student attendance 5 November.
Other Business
J. Rahn noted that York University has been granted a court order re 3rd-party access to York University’s server and asked whether the issue was being taken up in JCOAA.
Item for Action
Motion: That the Officers’ Workplan 2009-10 be approved. Carried.
Item for information
Executive received J. Rahn’s report on the 29-30 May 2009 CAUT Conference on Contract Academic Faculty and agreed that it be posted at the YUFA Website.
Order of the Day: Endorsement of the Tentative Settlement
Chief Negotiator, Brenda Spotton Visano, presented the tentative Agreement and responded to questions from YUFA Executive.
Motion: That Executive endorse the tentative settlement reached by the Negotiating Team and the Employer and recommend it to the YUFA membership for ratification. Carried unanimously.
Executive agreed that YUFA members be informed as soon as possible that Executive has endorsed the tentative settlement and recommends it to the YUFA membership for ratification. Executive also agreed that the tentative settlement be printed and mailed to YUFA members as soon as possible (e.g., to be received by YUFA members 11 September) and that a Ratification Meeting be held as soon as possible thereafter.