Today, in honour of the first day of early voting and in a direct act of protest over the "Essential Spending and Strategic Hiring" announcement we got in a Special CamNews today, I'm writing a very personal message to all of my siblings, colleagues, and friends. I first moved to Canada in 2010, actually, on May the fourth, as many of you may have heard me joke during our … [Read more...] about What Voting in This Election Means to Me
Search Results for: Bargaining
Why Voting Matters
Submitted by Blair Fisher I would just like to take a minute as we approach the upcoming provincial election as to why each of our votes matters. Our industry, post-secondary education, is both highly politicized and politically dependent on government funding. We have seen areas within Canada where education is under attack, and the rights to fair bargaining have been … [Read more...] about Why Voting Matters
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
A Few Helpful Reminders for CCFA Members – Fall 2024
Hi Members! A few end-of-the-month reminders, but trying to keep this brief because the official digest comes out next week! Be on the lookout for our Bargaining Team and Exec members circulating in your areas. They’ll be dropping into your department and team meetings with our Bargaining Survey! I know it seems obscenely soon, since we don’t even have an … [Read more...] about A Few Helpful Reminders for CCFA Members – Fall 2024
Your LWSA fund got a boost to $375. Make sure to claim your money!
Our Lifestyle and Wellness Spending Account (LWSA) that we negotiated as part of the last bargaining round just got bumped to $375 per eligible member. The instructions are nearly unchanged so make sure you apply and get the money you are entitled to! >> Click here for instructions on how to claim your $375! Unfortunately, faculty members have only accessed 30% of the … [Read more...] about Your LWSA fund got a boost to $375. Make sure to claim your money!
Invite your Union to your next Department Meeting!
Our current collective agreement expires in less than six months. Yes, the contract we ratified only a year ago is already on its post-retirement contract. Your Contract Negotiations Team (CNC) is well on its way to drafting new language to secure better working conditions for you and your faculty colleagues. From our General Meetings, our Town Halls, and our many hallway … [Read more...] about Invite your Union to your next Department Meeting!
Welcome Back &/or Carry On, Members!
Dear Friends and Members! Whether you are returning from a brief time off between semester assignments or the summer break, there's a few new and different things that all faculty members should be aware of! Your Union didn't take any time off this summer and we've been working around the clock to improve your working conditions and protect your rights. That said, we don't … [Read more...] about Welcome Back &/or Carry On, Members!
Your 2024 AGM Election Results & Highlights
Congratulations to your newly elected CCFA Executives! We are happy to announce that the following nominees have been elected or acclaimed to Office for 2024-25: The new Executive Committee members will take office on September 1, 2024. We are also pleased to inform you that Isabel Grondin (CSEE) has been elected to the position of CCFA Representative on the PD … [Read more...] about Your 2024 AGM Election Results & Highlights
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
Faculty Feature: The History of Scheduled Development
Re-published from Jan 2020 Confluence, Vol 9 - Issue 3, by Mark Kunen with edits & updates by Lynelle Yutani Next spring, the CCFA Negotiating Committee will enter a new round of bargaining that may, in some unpredictable ways, change the collective agreement that defines our salaries, benefits, and, to a large extent, our working conditions. The collective agreement is … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: The History of Scheduled Development
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
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
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
The $250 (UPDATE: $375!) Lifestyle and Wellness Spending Account is (finally) here!
THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE LWSA HAS NOW PASSED. MANULIFE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY MORE CLAIMS. If you have already submitted a claim before May 1, 2025 and it was rejected or stalled, contact ac.ytlucafnusomac@gniniagrab for help. UPDATE: This fund has been increased from $250 per eligible member to $375! Click for more. We know members have been waiting patiently for the … [Read more...] about The $250 (UPDATE: $375!) Lifestyle and Wellness Spending Account is (finally) here!
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
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
You have new health benefits! Here’s how to use them.
As you hopefully already know, your 2022-2025 CCFA Bargaining Team negotiated Camosun Faculty a whole whack of new extended health benefits. These benefits are part of your total compensation package as Camosun employees, so make sure you take full advantage. Here's how: We have a pay-direct Drug Card! Manulife has finally started the process of mailing members our new … [Read more...] about You have new health benefits! Here’s how to use them.
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!
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
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
Retro pay update: Dec 15 for most members
Hi everyone! Some good news on the first day of the exam period. The College has confirmed that it will issue retro pay for nearly all current members on the next payday, Dec 15! We know this retro pay from a cost-of-living increase is still coming later than it should, but we fought hard to make sure the Employer learned that delaying retro pay until 2024 was not … [Read more...] about Retro pay update: Dec 15 for most members
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
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”
Organizing for Climate Action — December 4-8, 2023
This is a callout for CAUT Organizing for Climate Action– which is being offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). This is an ideal course where academic associations can play a leading role in organizing their members to help our universities and colleges reduce their environmental impacts, Please take advantage of this … [Read more...] about Organizing for Climate Action — December 4-8, 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!
A New Contract Needs New Stewards
(on behalf of your new Contract Management Chair, Peter Ove) I know we are all pleased with the improvements and gains in our new Collective Agreement and we have much to celebrate. However, ensuring that our employer honours all the new terms in the contract takes a team and the start of a new contract is a great time to join the Contract Management Committee. Even though … [Read more...] about A New Contract Needs New Stewards
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?
2022-2025 Collective Agreement FAQ
Your CCFA Contract Negotiating Committee worked hard to secure our members a fair deal that improved working conditions, compensation, and benefits. There's a lot to take in! For a comprehensive look at all the changes, click here. We'll continue to update this page as we receive new information. Be sure to check back often! Wages Regularization Drug … [Read more...] about 2022-2025 Collective Agreement FAQ
Notice of Fall 2023 Ed Co By-Elections
Dear Members, Once again, I am writing to notify you about another upcoming by-election for Education Council representation. 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 and maybe even a suspiciously similar post … [Read more...] about Notice of Fall 2023 Ed Co By-Elections
CCFA Members Have Ratified Our 2022-2025 Collective Agreement
Congratulations, we have ratified the 2022-2025 Collective Agreement! The vote was 98% in favour of ratification with 183 members voting. During the meeting we recorded over 230 unique users logging on (close to a third of members). Kelly Pitman and the entire Bargaining Committee worked all through the Summer to bring members this deal and I want to thank … [Read more...] about CCFA Members Have Ratified Our 2022-2025 Collective Agreement
