Hi friends, As we are wrapping up the summer term and preparing for the boisterous fall term, it's time to update you on the status of our contract negotiations. As you may recall, in June, we tabled a one-year, wage-only package with a single item: a 3.6% general wage increase for all faculty. Given how far apart our respective visions for the College were, we felt this … [Read more...] about Bargaining Bulletin 4: You’ve gotta have (bad) faith
bargaining
Bargaining 2025: An Audacious Step Forward
Last Monday, June 16 was an eventful day in bargaining. Why on earth would we do that? This is a long post about a short day—but it's important to see the whole picture. Here goes: 1. We did this together, and it mattered. More than 20 observers from across the College attended our bargaining session. (You can read CCFA President Lynelle's conversation on open … [Read more...] about Bargaining 2025: An Audacious Step Forward
Your 2025 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 2025-26: We are also pleased to inform you that Isabel Grondin (HSHS) has been re-elected to the position of CCFA Representative on the PD Committee, effective immediately. The Executive Committee extends our … [Read more...] about Your 2025 AGM Election Results & Highlights
2025 CCFA Winter GM – Thurs, Feb 27, 3:00-4:30 PM – Hybrid: Interurban & Online (via Zoom)
You’re invited! All Camosun College Faculty Association Members are encouraged to attend the Winter General Meeting on Thursday, February 27, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. Location: HYBRID: In-person: CHW 235 (Interurban) or Online: Zoom (see link and details in your Outlook Invite) Please check your Outlook Calendar to make sure you’ve received our invite and link. … [Read more...] about 2025 CCFA Winter GM – Thurs, Feb 27, 3:00-4:30 PM – Hybrid: Interurban & Online (via Zoom)
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!
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
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!
A Union’s Work Is Never Done!
The Real Story Behind Labour Day: More Than Just a Day Off in Canada and the U.S. Labour Day in Canada and the U.S. has become synonymous with barbecues, sales, and the unofficial end of summer. But let's not forget, this holiday wasn’t always about chilling by the pool. It was born out of the gritty struggle of workers who fought tooth and nail for the basic rights we take … [Read more...] about A Union’s Work Is Never Done!
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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!
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
