Volunteer with the Union? Sheesh…I dunno… Submitted by Pei Mei Chia Some people swear by their unions while others swear at them. Whichever way you choose, I can tell you firsthand that our CCFA union is wonderful! I’m not here to convince you though I’m here to give you a brief insight into my first-year experience on the exec with an upfront look at the inner … [Read more...] about If not YOU, then WHO?
CCFA Signs the BC Students Open Letter
13 March 2024 The Honourable David Eby, MLA Premier of British Columbia Parliament Buildings Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Dear Premier Eby and the Government of B.C., RE: BC Federation of Students Open Letter & 5 Calls to Action for Post-Secondary The [Organisation Name] has recently become a signatory on the BC Federation of Students’ open letter “We Can Do … [Read more...] about CCFA Signs the BC Students Open Letter
Faculty Feature: Blended Learning
Blended Learning: What are the Rules? Submitted By Robin Fast, Derek Murray, & Emily Schudel Do you or have you been considering offering a course in a blended-learning mode? Have you heard conflicting messages about what blended learning is, how the course needs to be configured, and who determines the format? Here are some key pieces that we hope will help … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: Blended Learning
2024 Winter GM – Highlights
Greetings to all our Siblings & Relations! Did you miss the Winter General Meeting on March 7, 2024? We wish that everyone could be there, but know that it isn't possible so here are the highlights. Our next meeting will be the Annual General Meeting & due to a scheduling conflict will be rescheduled so please watch your college email account for an update to the … [Read more...] about 2024 Winter GM – Highlights
FPSE – HRISC Speakers Tour 2024
2024 FPSE Human Rights and International Solidarity Speakers Tour: Making a Place for Dialogue in Times of Conflict Tuesday, March 26, 20241:00 p.m. PT on Zoom Advocating for human rights has become a contentious issue on many university and college campuses across Canada and worldwide, yet part of the academic mission is to foster an environment conducive to inquiry and … [Read more...] about FPSE – HRISC Speakers Tour 2024
REMINDER! Notice of Spring 2024 Ed Co Elections
Once again, it's Spring Elections time and there are three open Faculty seats on Education Council. Some of you may remember my blog post, “Why should you care about Academic Governance?” which explains how important it is to have strong faculty representation on our Educational Council and maybe you read a suspiciously similar post called "Notice of Upcoming 2023 Spring … [Read more...] about REMINDER! Notice of Spring 2024 Ed Co Elections
Know Your Rights: New LOA XX Revising & Rescinding Term Appointments
When the college cancels offerings or fails to offer diverse learning content, particularly in Arts & Science, there can be a lot of negative effects: Sure, there's a ton of uncertainty on the horizon - partly due to the recent changes in International Student Visas. However, as we've all read in CamNews and has been reported to the Board of Governors by the President … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: New LOA XX Revising & Rescinding Term Appointments
FYI: Work From Home Tax Reporting Changes
Hi Members, During our recent Winter General Meeting, a member inquired if we were eligible for T2200 forms for our tax filing this year. Since I didn't know the answer, but thought that there may be many of our members who had the same question, I'm sharing the College's answer on our blog. The information inside of the text box is a copy of the email I … [Read more...] about FYI: Work From Home Tax Reporting Changes
Register Now for CAUT Collective Bargaining April 02 – April 05, 2024
Greetings Members! Have you been thinking about joining our Bargaining Team this year? We hope so! What? You're worried you won't know what is going on since you've never been at a bargaining table before? Don't worry, we got you! This CAUT Collective Bargaining workshop is just for you, I know, I took it last year! We are proud to bring you another … [Read more...] about Register Now for CAUT Collective Bargaining April 02 – April 05, 2024
2024 Winter GM – Thursday, March 7, 3:00-4:30 PM – Online
Attention Camosun College Faculty Association Members, your Winter General Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM, on Zoom. Please check your Outlook Calendar to make sure you've received our invite and link. If you haven't gotten an invite, please contact us. If you've never attended a CCFA General Meeting before, GMs are held virtually, … [Read more...] about 2024 Winter GM – Thursday, March 7, 3:00-4:30 PM – Online
International Solidarity Fund
The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators is accepting requests to access funding from the 2024 International Solidarity Fund (ISF) until Monday, February 26, 2024. You may access the ISF Application Form other ISF information on the FPSE website. The ISF is designed to support long-term, ongoing projects that build partnerships between our Federation and people in the … [Read more...] about International Solidarity Fund
Labour Action for Equity Course
Register NOW for the CAUT Labour Action for Equity Course — March 4 - 15, 2024 Here's another great educational opportunity being offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) through our Federation of Post Secondary Educators (FPSE) affiliation! This is an ideal course where ongoing organizing with your association’s members is critical … [Read more...] about Labour Action for Equity Course
Faculty Feature: Something’s missing.
Submitted by: Morgan Myers It’s fair, in our Camosun College internal and external communications, a want to celebrate the happenings for students and staff. It’s fair to shine a lens on the many bright spots we, the students and staff at Camosun College, are engaged in. What’s unfair is the failure to make aware the gift of February as taking up space in our collective … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: Something’s missing.
CCFA Endorses the FPSE Call for the Immediate Resignation of the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
The Camosun College Faculty Association endorses the following FPSE statement and actions. The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) joined today with our national partners, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), in writing to Premier David Eby to call for the immediate resignation of Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education … [Read more...] about CCFA Endorses the FPSE Call for the Immediate Resignation of the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
Know Your Rights: Scheduled Development Time
Hi Continuing Faculty Members! This is by no means the "official" version of this clause. But until we do have one, it seemed wise to publish a clean version for readability since Scheduled Development Intents are due Feb 1! Remember that once you've created your Intent in Faculty Connect, you'll have to wait for your Chair AND Dean or Director to approve it before you … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Scheduled Development Time
Know Your Rights: Emergency Absences
Did you get snowed in? A message from your stewards on the Contract Management Committee: If you had to miss either Wednesday or Thursday morning last week, when the college was open for business, because of inclement weather, here are your choices regarding the missed time (either a half day or a whole day, depending on whether you missed one or both mornings): If … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Emergency Absences
Know Your Rights: Faculty Appraisal Update
We recently held three Know Your Rights: Faculty Appraisal Infosessions. While these were attended by over 100 members, we know that not everyone who wanted to, was able to attend. Here's a review of what we covered and what we learned from the members who attended! This is an update of our original Know Your Rights: Appraisal post and review Clause 28 of the CCFA Local … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Faculty Appraisal Update
Know Your Rights: Faculty Hiring Panels
How is Hiring done in your Department? I've heard about quite a few different processes being used and unfortunately, that's a problem because there's just one, acceptable BARGAINED process allowed. From our most recent Memorandum of Settlement which will eventually become our 2022-2025 Collective Agreement. Faculty Hiring Panels, as outlined in the Camosun-CCFA … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Faculty Hiring Panels
Warning! Predatory Conferences
Martha McAlister and the PD Funding Committee would like members to beware of SCAM conferences. There has been an increase in fake "Predatory Conferences" Before you seek funding to attend a conference, please ensure it is a reputable organization. It can be very hard to detect and a number of us have been fooled. Keep an eye out for some of these red … [Read more...] about Warning! Predatory Conferences
CAUT Grievance Handling Workshop
This is another callout for CAUT Grievance Handling– which is being offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). CCFA Members, through our membership in the Federation of Post Secondary Educators (FPSE), are eligible to enroll for this free training! This is an ideal course where you'll learn a little bit about the grievance and dispute … [Read more...] about CAUT Grievance Handling Workshop
Call for Nominations for a FPSE College Pension Plan Trustee
This notice is a call for nominations for a Federation of Post Secondary Educators (FPSE) College Pension Plan trustee. Please email any faculty nominations to Exec for review by noon on Wednesday, February 9, 2024. The Opportunity The BC College Pension Fund, as of its most recent annual report, has $6.6 billion in assets*. The Fund represents roughly 2.8% of BC’s … [Read more...] about Call for Nominations for a FPSE College Pension Plan Trustee
2023 Seniority List
The 2023 Seniority List is finally out and published on our website! Do you know why a Union's Seniority List is so important? The seniority list is important because it plays a vital role in ensuring fairness and consistency within the organization. It serves as a reference point for various employment-related decisions. In many departments, seniority influences the … [Read more...] about 2023 Seniority List
My Favorite Things – Union Style
When Rogers and Hammerstein wrote the beloved stage musical, the Sound of Music which debuted in 1959, they never imagined the song "My Favorite Things" would someday become closely associated with the winter holidays as a popular secular carol. It was Julie Andrews, performing "My Favorite Things" in 1961 on the Gary Moore TV Holiday Special that launched this song into the … [Read more...] about My Favorite Things – Union Style
Inadequate Parking Grievance – Updates
Hopefully you've all read our previous blog post on gathering more data about inadequate parking at Interurban Campus. And, for all of you who've sent us your data, reports, photos, and more - we want to thank you & ask that you keep them coming! We also want to know what happened when you disputed a ticket! The reason why we want you to keep sending us this information … [Read more...] about Inadequate Parking Grievance – Updates
Know Your Rights – Prep Time
7.06 Preparation Time for New Employees We can all remember how difficult it was for us during that very first term of teaching as a brand new new faculty member at the college. There's so much to learn! Where are your classrooms going to be, where should you park, what equipment will you need, and where is your workstation? You meet dozens of new folx, you get access to … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights – Prep Time
CAUT Organizing School 101
WE WANT YOU! To go to Organizing School 101– this is a great, FREE course being offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) as part of our FPSE affiliation. This is an ideal course to learn how & why ongoing organizing with our members is critical for successful collective bargaining as well as promoting diversity equity, and … [Read more...] about CAUT Organizing School 101
CCFA Endorses the FPSE Statement on the Ongoing Conflict in the Middle East
The Camosun College Faculty Association endorses the December 4th "Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of British Columbia (FPSE) statement on the war in Gaza." The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of British Columbia (FPSE) is deeply saddened by the events of the past few weeks, and we demand a ceasefire. The escalating conflict across the Middle East region in … [Read more...] about CCFA Endorses the FPSE Statement on the Ongoing Conflict in the Middle East
Informal Request Denied?
It's a tale as old as time, "I asked my dean/director and they told me NO, what can the Union do about it?" Well... honestly? Not much... until something's been put in writing, an email, a text, a fax (does anyone actually have one of those anymore?) or... etched on a stone tablet, spray painted on the side of a building... you get the idea. (Hey, I'm Gen X we love … [Read more...] about Informal Request Denied?
Canadian Labour Congress – Winter School 2024
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has released their course offerings for the upcoming 2024 Winter School, and it looks like another fantastic selection of introductory and advanced training opportunities in Labour Education. What is Labour Education, you ask? Labour education is the foundation and the future of Canada’s unions. It helps to strengthen unions by … [Read more...] about Canadian Labour Congress – Winter School 2024
Faculty Appraisal Infosessions
Noon- 1 pm Dec 5, 9:30-10:30 am Dec 13 & 1 - 2 pm January 4 Hi members! Your Union wants you to be better informed about your Collective Agreement Rights. This time of year, it is important to know your rights on Faculty Appraisal! Try to join one of our upcoming Infosessions. We're offering multiple sessions on this so as many of you can attend as … [Read more...] about Faculty Appraisal Infosessions
