Greetings, friends. The Union bargained for three days last week (February 21-23, 2023). We began by settling several more housekeeping issues. Then we went through each other's proposals to indicate broadly our interest in finding middle ground. This helps all concerned decide where to focus their energies, but it does not mean that either side cannot push forward with a … [Read more...] about CCFA Bargaining Update #3
FPSE-HRISC Speakers Tour 2023
International Students in Canada (March 3 | 1pm PT) University and college students in BC (and beyond) are reporting health, housing and food insecurity challenges. International students often face these and other challenges in navigating their schools, communities and governmentalities. Our moderated March 3rd afternoon panel will focus on longstanding (and … [Read more...] about FPSE-HRISC Speakers Tour 2023
First Notice of upcoming 2023 Spring Elections
Happy Friday, Members! I wanted to inform you all of the upcoming Spring Elections. Some of you may remember my blog post last fall, “Why should you care about Academic Governance?” which explains how important it is to have strong faculty representation on our Educational Council. Our organization has been systematically attempting to expand their managerial rights … [Read more...] about First Notice of upcoming 2023 Spring Elections
Request for information on behalf of the CCFA Contract Management Committee
Dear Colleagues, The Contract Management Committee has a few pieces of news for you as well as a query. In solidarity, Jeanne (on behalf of the Contract Management Committee: Frank Jankunis, Mark Kunen, Denelle Lambert, Peter Ove, Kelly Pitman, Dominique Roelants, Charlotte Sheldrake, and Lynelle Yutani) … [Read more...] about Request for information on behalf of the CCFA Contract Management Committee
CAUT GRIEVANCE HANDLING (March 27 – March 31, 2023) Another Educational Opportunity CCFA!
Good Afternoon Members, This is the first call for CAUT Grievance Handling – register by 4:00 PM on Thursday March 9, 2023 which is being offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). This is an ideal course for those new to grieving – that’s the dispute resolution process between the employer and union. Please take advantage of … [Read more...] about CAUT GRIEVANCE HANDLING (March 27 – March 31, 2023) Another Educational Opportunity CCFA!
Reminder for Members – Two Important Deadlines on February 15
Dear Members, I know many of you were negativity impacted by the pay date change and wanted to be sure you don’t miss the window to reapply! The Payroll Advance Option to support faculty negatively impacted by the Pay Date Change Deadline to Apply is February 15! The College is making the “loan option” available to faculty and exempt employees. This “loan” is … [Read more...] about Reminder for Members – Two Important Deadlines on February 15
Call for Proposals: 2023 FPSE International Solidarity Fund
Dear Members, The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators is accepting requests to access funding from the 2023 International Solidarity Fund (ISF) until Monday, February 20, 2023. You may access the online application form and other ISF information on the FPSE website. The ISF is designed to support long-term, ongoing projects that build partnerships between our … [Read more...] about Call for Proposals: 2023 FPSE International Solidarity Fund
Register Now for CAUT’s Collective Bargaining (March 6 – 10, 2023) – by 4 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2023
Greetings Members! This is the first call for CAUT Collective Bargaining – which is another workshop being offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) through our FPSE affiliation. This is an ideal course for those new to bargaining or interested in learning more about what goes on at the bargaining table. It is a great way to … [Read more...] about Register Now for CAUT’s Collective Bargaining (March 6 – 10, 2023) – by 4 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2023
Free Webinar on Canadian Pension Plans & Climate Crisis
Hi Members! Ally Flynn, our FPSE Pension Advisory Committee member, wanted me to share a free webinar link with you. The webinar is Wednesday, February 8, @ 9 AM (12-1 EST). You need to register for a spot, but there doesn’t appear to be a limit on attendees. We know it is late notice for many of you, but it just came to our attention. Canadian … [Read more...] about Free Webinar on Canadian Pension Plans & Climate Crisis
Welcome Message from New PD Chair
Hello dear CCFA members. I want to introduce myself to you. I have just taken over the role of the CCFA Professional Development Fund committee chair (from Blair Fisher, who was in the role for many years). I thought it would be good to share some valuable tips and info with you about the PD funds and the process to apply. DID YOU KNOW? Term faculty are also entitled … [Read more...] about Welcome Message from New PD Chair
SD Intent Deadlines & Payroll Advance Registration Reminders!
Greetings Members! I know from the title you were probably expecting to get a series of Confluence Blog articles from the Union’s posts over the last month. Well, surprise! THERE WEREN’T ANY. Not that I didn’t want to publish some great info for our members or that I wouldn’t have loved to post your content, too (that’s a plea, by the way!). None of … [Read more...] about SD Intent Deadlines & Payroll Advance Registration Reminders!
UPDATE: Union Response to Pay Date Change Fiasco
Dear Members, Yesterday, we asked you for your stories and I’ve spent the past day reading so many distressing stories about you were affected in the aftermath of the Pay Date Change. I learned that a substantial number of our members have suffered negative financial consequences from being improperly informed and underprepared for the shift to “Pay in Arrears.” … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Union Response to Pay Date Change Fiasco
Union Response to Pay Date Change Fiasco
Dear Members, Earlier this month, it seemed like our members lost a week of pay because our pay date was postponed right after the Winter Holiday, and we won’t get that money back until we retire or otherwise leave the College’s employment. In September, when the College indicated it would change the dates of pay for CCFA members, it is clear that they utterly failed to … [Read more...] about Union Response to Pay Date Change Fiasco
Shared Recovery Mandate | Bargaining 2022
How Does The "Shared Recovery Mandate" Stack Up Against Inflation? Are you sure you really want to know this? I wasn't... but then morbid curiosity got the better of me. Our Union is 48 years old. In less than two years, we will celebrate OUR golden 50th anniversary, just three years behind Camosun College's. So lets see how well we weathered inflation during that time. … [Read more...] about Shared Recovery Mandate | Bargaining 2022
Holiday Spotlight on Literature: “A Visit from the Union”
Updated 2022 Edition by Lynelle Yutani. (A highly stylized adaptation of the poem, “Twas The Night Before Christmas” attributed to both Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston Jr.) 'Twas just days before Christmas, when all through each campus,Not a creature was stirring, the Term's all complete, for which you can thanks us; Next term’s course syllabi are posted to … [Read more...] about Holiday Spotlight on Literature: “A Visit from the Union”
Faculty Feature: Winter Break Isn’t a Jolly Holiday for All
A reminder about precarity from one of your many Term Colleagues It’s that time again! We are in the final stretch until the end of the term. For many instructors this is a time of winding down and thinking about the next semester of teaching and looking forward to some well-deserved R&R. For term employees, it the stress and uncertainty of if there is a contract coming … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: Winter Break Isn’t a Jolly Holiday for All
It’s Not Just
Pray for the dead, fight like hell for the living. There are far too many "memorial" dates in November, beginning with November 8, Indigenous Veteran's Remembrance Day and traditional Remembrance Day on November 11, every November Canadians spend a vast portion of time grieving for those we've lost and reflecting on how to end the violence. You may have noticed the … [Read more...] about It’s Not Just
CCFA Endorses Capilano Faculty Association’s Statement of Support For Iran
It is impossible to ignore the ongoing human rights violations occurring daily in Iran as people there continue to protest the death of Mahsa Amini on September 13, 2022. Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, was accused of inappropriately wearing a hijab by Iran’s ‘Moral Security’ agency, arrested, and killed. Following her death, … [Read more...] about CCFA Endorses Capilano Faculty Association’s Statement of Support For Iran
2022 Fall GM – Thursday, November 3, 3:00-4:30 PM – Online
Attention Camosun College Faculty Association Members, your Fall General Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. 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. This is an important meeting for all Term AND Continuing Faculty members … [Read more...] about 2022 Fall GM – Thursday, November 3, 3:00-4:30 PM – Online
Fair Employment Week 2022
MAKING IT FAIR FOR CONTRACT ACADEMIC STAFF October 17-21 is Fair Employment Week, the Canadian Association of University Teachers' annual campaign to raise awareness about precarious employment on campuses and support local organizing to improve the working conditions of contract academic staff. For us here at Camosun College that's our many Term, Contract, … [Read more...] about Fair Employment Week 2022
Have You Seen the New 2023-2028 Strat Plan Draft for Camosun College?
I hadn't, and I'm usually pretty observant! So you can imagine my surprise when, during the October Board of Governor's (BoG) meeting, I learned that it was due to be approved next month for adoption in January. Hang on. What? That's right. The thing that will guide, direct, and affect each of our working lives over the next five years, that we were promised to be … [Read more...] about Have You Seen the New 2023-2028 Strat Plan Draft for Camosun College?
Learning to Walk Together in a Good Way
September 30th is now officially Victoria Orange Shirt Day in BC also known as National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. This proclamation was made by the Honorable Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, an uninvited settler on these unsurendered (but occupied nonetheless) lands, with the … [Read more...] about Learning to Walk Together in a Good Way
What does “important” mean?
Recently your Union did something that may have surprised many of you. We sent an actual physical postcard... to your home address. No one on the current Exec could remember ever having done anything like that before; and don't for a minute imagine that it was an easy decision for the Executive Committee to make, either. We wrestled with the idea for a long time... we … [Read more...] about What does “important” mean?
Why should you care about Academic Governance?
Well, for starters, Education Council, or EdCo, is the one and ONLY governance committee at Camosun College that has MORE faculty than administrators on it. Well, that is, when all the elected seats are filled. When it comes to the Academic Matters of this institution, the Education Council are responsible for changes to student admissions, academic standards, and academic … [Read more...] about Why should you care about Academic Governance?
FPSE Climate Action Standing Committee Speaker Series
The CCFA is proud to announce that the inaugural FPSE Climate Action Standing Committee Speakers Series will be held September 23rd, 2022 at 10 AM. Scott Saywell, Superintendent of BC School District 68 and Joan Brown, CAO of the Snuneymuxw First Nation will share their organization’s approaches on sustainability and climate issues with an emphasis on applying traditional … [Read more...] about FPSE Climate Action Standing Committee Speaker Series
Announcing the 2022 CCFA Charity Fund Recipients
Each year, the CCFA allocates $1500 to make donations to various charities nominated by our members. It is never an easy decision deciding how to split such a small sum among so many in need. This year, our decision was harder than ever, with many, many deserving charities submitted we relied on a guiding principle that we would fund charities where our own faculty and … [Read more...] about Announcing the 2022 CCFA Charity Fund Recipients
Bargaining in the shadow of BC’s Public Sector Employers’ Council
Have you heard the news? BCGEU: The votes are in and nearly 95% of BCGEU's public service members voted in favour of strike action, in their fight for a fair deal that includes #COLA! This is a big day for BC's labour movement. Read on to learn more about why this matters and how important it is for Collective Bargaining. Union Power in BC has been suppressed for over … [Read more...] about Bargaining in the shadow of BC’s Public Sector Employers’ Council
Honouring Our Commitments to Reconciliation on National Indigenous Persons Day
It is so important to uphold and promote good works that others do. Amplifying and sharing with respect and gratitude isn't always appreciated in our colonialized educational system. So, today rather than creating my own blog post on Indigenous Persons Day, I am sharing a wonderful Newsletter from the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council that I received through a sign-up … [Read more...] about Honouring Our Commitments to Reconciliation on National Indigenous Persons Day
Pride & Labour: There Might Not Have Been One Without the Other
This week kicks off a week of PRIDE celebration events here in Victoria, B.C. and while my heart soars that after a two year hiatus, queer and straight alike will once again have the opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principle that LOVE IS LOVE, together and in-person. My joy is overshadowed by the growth of hate speech and the threats of violence against queer … [Read more...] about Pride & Labour: There Might Not Have Been One Without the Other
Your Labour Makes It All Possible
This past week, as thousands of Camosun graduates crossed the convocation stage at the first in-person graduation ceremony since the beginning of the Pandemic, I wanted to extend my awe and gratitude to all of our members for a job well done. Covid-19 robbed us of so much, like the hundreds and thousands of uncompensated hours of labour you supplied to make it possible for … [Read more...] about Your Labour Makes It All Possible
