The Communiqué: Volume 46, No. 2 – Sep. 22, 2023 – Carleton University Academic Staff Association

The Communiqué: Volume 46, No. 2 – Sep. 22, 2023

In this Issue:

Know Your Rights – Collective Bargaining Process
Get involved: Volunteer with CUASA
CUASA Disability Caucus and CUASA 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Caucus Upcoming Meetings
Rapid Response: Protect Trans Kids! Rally
Together We Can Mentorship Program from the Somali Centre for Family Services
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Academic Community Updates

Know Your Rights – Collective Bargaining Process

Our Know Your Rights segments highlight different aspects that impact your employment at Carleton University, including highlights from the Collective Agreement in small, easy to understand bits.

As many of you already know, bargaining season is almost upon us. On April 30, 2024, the current Collective Agreement between CUASA and Carleton will expire. Within the period of ninety days prior to that expiration date, either party can serve its notice to indicate the desire to bargain with a view to renew the Collective Agreement. Despite the fixed expiration date, the Collective Agreement shall continue during negotiation until either a new Collective Agreement is ratified by both parties, or until a strike or lock-out is declared.

Prior to bargaining, CUASA’s Collective Bargaining Committee (CBC) will begin soliciting input from members to determine the priorities for the upcoming round of negotiations. The CBC is currently working to prepare the pre-bargaining survey that will be launched later this fall, which will allow members to provide input on their priorities for the 2024 round. We are also planning a series of unit visits to allow us to hear directly from members.

Once we have identified our list of priorities for bargaining, the Collective Bargaining Committee will seek approval of the Association’s bargaining mandate from CUASA Council, in accordance with CUASA’s Bylaw 1. At that point, Council will also appoint the Negotiating Team in accordance with Bylaw 2.

At the start of negotiations, CUASA will provide a list of articles in the Collective Agreement that it wishes to open. Likewise, Carleton will provide their list of articles they wish to open. Once an article is opened, it may be subject to amendments from either side. Articles that have not been identified in advance as open for negotiation must remain unchanged for this round of bargaining.

It is CUASA’s wish, as always, to reach a fair and equitable deal without having to resort to a strike. However, in the event that negotiations are not proceeding as hoped, CUASA Council may authorize the calling of a strike vote, and if necessary, the possibility of job action, in order for the Association to achieve its bargaining goals.

Members can rest assured that we will keep them informed at every step of the negotiations process. Please continue to watch for future bargaining updates as the preparations for the 2024 round continue.

Get involved: Volunteer with CUASA

Fall is right around the corner, and there’s still time to think about your service commitments for next year. If you’d like to contribute to CUASA’s work in the coming year, here are some ways you can help:

… join CUASA’s leadership with a role on the Steering Committee

The Steering Committee helps to set direction for the union, and administers Association policies. This committee meets once a month during the academic year, and roles on Steering typically include teaching releases in exchange for your service. We’re still looking for volunteers to serve as CUASA’s Vice Presidentand Professional Librarian Representative.

… serve as a member of Anti-Racism Working Group

This Working Group is open to any CUASA member interested in addressing the issue of racism at Carleton. It usually meets once a month during the academic year.

… volunteer as a member of CUASA’s Investigatory Council

This Council works to address allegations of harassment between members. All members are trained on how to process complaints, investigate complaints, maintain confidentiality, and ensure procedural fairness during the investigatory and appeals processes. The Council meets as needed.

… join the new Mobilization Committee

This new Committee, approved by Council in May, is responsible for member mobilization and possible strike preparation as CUASA enters negotiations for a new collective agreement next spring 2024. The committee will likely meet once a month during the upcoming academic year.

For more information, or to volunteer for any of these positions, please contact the CUASA’s Chair, Nominations and Elections, Wasiu Raji, at [email protected].

Disability Caucus and 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Caucus Upcoming Meetings

Over the last year members have expressed interest in forming various caucus groups at CUASA. So far, we have had requests for a 2SLBGTQIA+ Pride Caucus and a Disability Caucus. If you are interested in participating in either caucus group, please contact Equity Officer Max López at [email protected] for more details. These caucus groups are intended to be a way for people from equity-seeking groups to find community connections, socialize, organize, support one another, and share ideas with each other and with CUASA. These groups typically meet once or twice a term, with the potential to meet more frequently if the members would prefer.

Rapid Response: Protect Trans Kids! Rally

Thanks to CUASA members who joined the Ottawa & District Labour Council for the “Rapid Response: Protect Trans Kids! Rally” at the Supreme Court Building on the morning of September 20^th. The rally was a counter to the ‘1 million March 4 Children’ protest, a hateful protest espousing anti-2SLGBTQIA+ views. The Protect Trans Kids! Rally ended up being larger than the anti-2SLGBTQIA+ protest and showed that hate has no place in our community. This was a moving moment of solidarity, warmth, and shared purpose. Although the rally is over, the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights is not. Please join us in the CUASA Pride Caucus for further efforts to strategize, organize, and build solidarity (details above).

Together We Can (TWC) Mentorship Program from the Somali Centre for Family Services

The Somali Centre for Family Services is looking for African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) professionals in the city of Ottawa to serve as mentors to ACB high school students in their Together We Can (TWC) Mentorship Program. Mentors would be expected to attend monthly mentorship sessions with their mentees, answer questions about careers and schooling in their industry, support in goal-setting, and assign light learning activities. Note that this is not limited to CUASA members, so please help spread the word! Please contact [email protected] and [email protected] for more information.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Next Saturday, September 30th, marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. It is a time to recognize the intergenerational harm caused by the residential school system that continues to impact Indigenous families and communities. There will be a commemorative gathering on Parliament Hill on September 30th, from 1:00 – 2:30pm and we encourage members to wear orange shirts and participate. Those interested can join CUASA and the Ottawa and District Labour Council (ODLC); we will be meeting outside the Labour Council office (280 Metcalfe Street) at 12:30pm and walk together to Parliament Hill.

Academic Community Updates

Support UWOFA Librarians and Archivists and help avert a strike at Western

Librarians and Archivists represented by the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) are currently bargaining with the administration at Western for a new Collective Agreement.

UWOFA’s Librarians and Archivists held a strike vote and returned a 100% YES! Mandate. On Sunday, September 17, a “No-Board” report was filed with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. This means UWOFA will be in a legal strike position as of 12:01 am on Wednesday, October 4.

UWOFA’s demands include increasing and maintaining the number of Librarians and Archivists at Western, proper recognition of the professional status and expertise of Librarians and Archivists at Western, and a fair monetary package.

Send a letter and show your support for UWOFA members!

Help Faculty, Librarians, and Professional Staff at NOSM U avoid a strike

The NOSM (Northern Ontario School of Medicine) University Faculty and Staff Association to is asking for your solidarity and support.

The NOSM Faculty and Staff Association (NUFSA), that represents the faculty, librarians, and professional staff has been in negotiations and has now entered into conciliation. The membership showed strong support to the negotiating team by voting 100% in favour of a strike mandate. However, efforts to engage in fair negotiations have thus far failed.

NUFSA is deeply concerned about the university administration’s continued attack on working conditions in negotiations. They are attempting to remove rights that would push working conditions far below standard in other universities and medical schools across the country, risking a negative impact on the learning conditions of current and future medical students and residents.

NUFSA needs your support is needed remind the Administration that Faculty, staff, and students should be the university’s first priority – gutting the teaching experience is not the answer if the goal is to increase the number of trained Northern and rural physicians.

Please take a few minutes to sign the letter of support to the University Administration and urge the NOSM U Senior Administrators to avoid a strike and take the steps to reach a fair and just settlement with NUFSA.

To participate, please visit this page.

Ontario faculty call for transparency from government on student housing crisis consultations

Faculty and academic librarians are calling for more clarity and bold solutions from the Minister of Colleges and Universities after a recent announcement that the Ministry will host consultations on the student housing crisis this fall.

The Minister announced the start of roundtable meetings that include representatives from municipalities, private career colleges, and builders, with the aim of removing barriers to creating affordable student housing. It is unclear in the initial announcement which stakeholders in the postsecondary sector will be invited to participate in the meetings.

Read the full statement from OCUFA.

Faculty and academic librarians say more can be done to improve campus safety

OCUFA President Nigmendra Narain spoke to media about the issue of campus safety, following the tragic attack at University of Waterloo in June 2023. In several interviews, he offered recommendations for universities and the provincial government to improve safety for all members of the campus community.

Read the full update from OCUFA.