At Camosun College, faculty members are protected by a legally binding collective agreement between the CCFA (Camosun College Faculty Association) and the employer. One of the key features of this agreement is that no faculty member can be required to accept changes to their workload, evaluations, or other terms of their employment without their explicit agreement. This might … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: You Don’t Have to Say Yes
Know Your Rights
I always feel like, somebody’s watching’ me!
...and I have no privacy! Who knew that song would come back as the anthem for the Artificial Intelligence era? Starting March 17, Information Technology Services enabled Live Transcription within Microsoft Teams. Live Transcription provides the dialogue by each speaker, aiding participants in noisy environments or those who prefer visual support. Don't get me wrong, from … [Read more...] about I always feel like, somebody’s watching’ me!
Time to start thinking about Scheduled Development!
2025-26 Intents and Proposals will be due February 1! All continuing, probationary, indefinite term, and post-retirement Faculty Members, except International Education Project Officers, Senior Analysts, and Program Developers in Professional Studies and Industry Training, are entitled to two months (or the equivalent) free of regular duties for approved scheduled … [Read more...] about Time to start thinking about Scheduled Development!
2024 Seniority List
The 2024 Seniority List is finally published on our website, but wait... Find the 2024 Seniority List here. What is Seniority? Seniority is a system used in workplaces and organizations to rank employees based on their length of service. Only Continuing faculty members earn seniority. Term faculty members accumulate "service in the bargaining unit," which is … [Read more...] about 2024 Seniority List
Workload & Why It Matters
A tale as old as time, "This is the way it is because it is the way we've always done it." Or this one, "If anyone says something, it could actually get worse for all of us, just wait until you're continuing." And the worst one yet, "it's only happening to the Term faculty." We promote Fair Employment Week each October, but I say we should focus on it all month—all … [Read more...] about Workload & Why It Matters
Inadequate Parking at IU – Grievance Settlement 2024
I can't think of a better recent example of our union "Working Together as One" than how so many members stepped up when we called on you to provide evidence for our Inadequate Parking at Interurban Grievance. Members working at Interurban submitted over 150 unique complaints documenting issues finding parking. Of these members scores of them were willing to provide direct … [Read more...] about Inadequate Parking at IU – Grievance Settlement 2024
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
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
If you didn’t receive retro pay, write your Union!
Happy New Year! Most Camosun College faculty members should have received their long-awaited (and much fought-for) retro pay from the negotiated wage increases in the 2022-2025 Collective Agreement on December 15. This includes continuing members employed at any point from ratification on Sept 21 to the date of the first issue of the pay increase on October 12 and any term … [Read more...] about If you didn’t receive retro pay, write your Union!
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
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?
New “Revised Medical Accommodations Process”
We don't often get to brag, but from time to time, the Union wins a major victory for all faculty members. Such was the case with our recent Mediated Settlement of the fact that our Employer had failed to evaluate and administer employee requests for medical accommodations in a fair and timely manner. The Union grieved the Employer's use of Manulife's Abilities Management … [Read more...] about New “Revised Medical Accommodations Process”
Inadequate Parking Grievance – More Data Needed!
Hello Members! Have you been circling the Interurban Campus parking lots endlessly trying to find a spot? Have you even gotten a ticket when you just have to park somewhere, anywhere in order to make it to teach your class on time? Well, you aren't alone! In fact, there's tons of us having the same issues. But our employer continues to deny that there's a problem and … [Read more...] about Inadequate Parking Grievance – More Data Needed!
Fair Employment Week 2023
MAKING IT FAIR FOR CONTRACT ACADEMIC STAFF October 16-20 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 2023
Past Members, You Need to Apply Now for Retro Pay!
Attention Members and former Camosun Employees! Please share this with any former faculty members that you know! We have a new Collective Agreement! What’s in it? Visit our FAQs to learn more! If you worked for Camosun between April 1, 2022 & September 21, 2023, you are eligible for BACK PAY, but you need to apply! This applies to ALL Substitute … [Read more...] about Past Members, You Need to Apply Now for Retro Pay!
We have a new Collective Agreement! What’s in it?
We're ecstatic to share Camosun College Faculty Association's new 2022-2025 Collective Agreement. Let's dive in! Jump ahead by clicking the issue important to you! Questions? Email ac.ytlucafnusomac@gniniagrab. Major gains and changes: Minor changes and clarifications: Concessions: Wages We bargained for an improved wage structure that includes an … [Read more...] about We have a new Collective Agreement! What’s in it?
Such a Deal!
Bargaining Update #7 We are pleased to let you know that the CCFA and Camosun College have signed a tentative memorandum of settlement for a new Collective Agreement. The next step is for both parties to seek ratification from their people. You are our people, so please stay tuned for an invitation to a meeting in which we will explain the intended changes to the Collective … [Read more...] about Such a Deal!
Know Your Rights: Vacation
This is a message from your friendly neighbourhood union rep, Kelly Pitman. Vacation entitlement for CCFA members is covered in Clause 8 of the Local Collective Agreement. I urge you to read the clause to get the full picture of your rights and obligations. In the meantime, here are some highlights. Calculating Vacation Continuing Employees, … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Vacation
Know Your Rights: Appraisals
Your Union wants you to be better informed about your Collective Agreement Rights. We’ve done blog posts on various topics and clauses, and our infosessions will start back up again in May-June. For now, enjoy our latest installment of “Know Your Rights” written by the very fabulous Kelly Pitman who in addition to being our Contract Negotiation Chair and Lead Bargainer in … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Appraisals
Know Your Rights: COVID-19 s.54 Settlement Re: “The Pivot”:
Hi Members, here's a little blast from the past! It's come to my attention that many of you have lost track of your COVID-19 Workload Complaint s.54 Settlement information. That's totally understandable as it was well over a year ago that we finally settled it. Fast in terms of how long it normally takes to resolve a grievance, but almost two years after-the-fact, none … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: COVID-19 s.54 Settlement Re: “The Pivot”:
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
Know Your Rights: Right of First Refusal
We recently won an important arbitration about your rights. It pertains to the first level of job security that term faculty members can obtain (right of first refusal—see article 1.02 (g) in the Local Agreement). Right now, we need your help to monitor whether the College will honour this ruling. We don’t always know when members are having trouble exercising … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Right of First Refusal
Know Your Rights: Getting Our Houses (Departments) in Order
Deans may come and go, but for most of us, our department is our home. That’s where our closest colleagues are, it’s where the most important discussions take place, and, if we are lucky, it’s where we find our best support. It’s also where collegial governance begins. I want to encourage you to take charge of some key areas in your department. If you organize … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Getting Our Houses (Departments) in Order
