The Communiqué: Volume 46, No. 5 – Nov. 3, 2023 – Carleton University Academic Staff Association

The Communiqué: Volume 46, No. 5 – Nov. 3, 2023

In this Issue:

CUASA 2023 Bargaining Themes Survey, deadline November 10
Joint Carleton-CUASA Statement on Instructor Rank
Meet Your Officers: George Duimovich, Professional Librarian Representative
Next week: Member Conduct Policy training, November 10
Get involved: Volunteer with CUASA
CUASA Disability Caucus and CUASA 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Caucus Upcoming Meetings
Carleton University Remembrance Day Service, November 10
Updates from OCUFA and CAUT

CUASA 2023 Bargaining Themes Survey, deadline November 10

The CUASA Collective Bargaining Committee has begun its work ahead of the expiry of the Collective Agreement on April 30, 2024.

To help us better understand the issues and concerns that are most important to CUASA bargaining unit members, please respond to our brief survey. Members can find the link to the survey in their emails (please contact [email protected] if you cannot find the link).

Your input is important and will guide us in our plans for bargaining.

There are 17 bargaining questions and 8 demographic questions in this survey. It should take you between 5 and 20 minutes to respond, depending on the length of your answers.

The survey will run until 4:30 pm on Friday, November 10.

We would like to give a special thank you to the over 280 members who have already responded to this survey since it launched last Friday.

Joint Carleton-CUASA Statement on Instructor Rank

Carleton University and the Carleton University Academic Staff Association (CUASA) are pleased to announce that, as of July 1, 2024, Instructors will be granted professorial ranks with a teaching stream designation (see below). Furthermore, a new rank of Full Professor, Teaching Stream has been created. The University and CUASA will be working together to jointly develop promotion criteria, guidelines, and university standards. More details to follow in the coming months.

As of July 1, 2024:

Instructor I will be named Lecturer, Teaching Stream
Instructor II will be named Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Instructor III will be named Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
Instructor IV will be named Full Professor, Teaching Stream

This new title and rank for teaching faculty is the result of the team effort by the Joint Parity Committee on Instructors, with thanks to co-chairs Pauline Rankin and Chantal Dion, as well as Howard Nemiroff, Mary Francoli, Shazia Sadaf, Ahmed Hassan, Martha Mullaly, Christine Laurendeau and Marylynn Steckley and administrative support from Jaye Horton (CUASA), Amy Wyse and Holly Manion (Carleton).

Catherine Khordoc
Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Planning)
Carleton University

Dominique Marshall
President
CUASA

Meet Your Officers: George Duimovich, Professional Librarian Representative

Since the summer, we have been introducing the new members of CUASA’s Steering Committee. In this update, we’d like to introduce George, who takes on the role of Professional Librarian Representative.

Photo credit: George Duimovich

George Duimovich joins us as the Professional Librarian Representative from the MacOdrum Library where he works with the community to develop the library’s print and digital collections, mainly in the STEM as well as selected subject areas supporting Public Affairs. Originally starting his career as Head of Library Technology Services (formerly Systems), George has held several senior roles across most library departments working in teams with both CUASA and CUPE members. In addition to his career at Carleton since 2012, George previously worked in science-based libraries in the Federal government, and started his first career in public health policy and health advocacy initiatives in the non-profit sector. George’s previous association membership has included PIPSC as well as the IAM.

Next week: Member Conduct Policy training, November 10

CUASA’s legal counsel from Goldblatt Partners LLP will be providing a virtual training session on CUASA’s Member Conduct Policy next Friday, November 10 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

This training is essential for members who are considering volunteering to be part of the Investigatory Council or Appeals Council under the Member Conduct Policy. These Councils works to address allegations of harassment between members.

Members will be 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.

Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you are interested in attending the training or if you have any questions.

Get involved: Volunteer with CUASA

The Association is only as strong as its membership, so we count on the time and commitment of our members to achieve our goals. If you’d like to contribute to CUASA’s work, 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 a volunteer to serve as CUASA’s Vice President.

… 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.

… 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 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.

Carleton University Remembrance Day Service, November 10

The Carleton University Remembrance Day service will take place next Friday, November 10, beginning at 10:45 am, at the flagpoles on Library Road near the Azrieli Theatre.

CUASA President Dominique Marshall will be in attendance to lay a wreath on behalf of CUASA members. Members of the Carleton community are encouraged to attend and observe a two-minute moment of silence at 11:00 am to honour Canadian soldiers who have served throughout history, many paying the ultimate price.

Updates from OCUFA and CAUT

OCUFA Board Motion: Solidarity with Brescia Faculty Association and the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association

The following motion was passed by the OCUFA Board of Directors at its meeting of October 28-29:

That the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association stands in solidarity with the Brescia Faculty Association and the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association to denounce the unilateral decision by both of their university administrations to “integrate” Brescia University College into the University of Western Ontario. The OCUFA Board opposes the process followed in reaching that decision, the steps that have been taken by both the Brescia and Western administrations since that decision, and the continued lack of transparency, commitment to collegial governance procedures and respect of the collective agreements in place. The Board also recognizes the unique and significant status of Brescia as Canada’s only women’s university college. At a time when the safety of women and trans people is increasingly threatened, it is especially concerning; student choices for equitable and safe spaces such as Brescia should be protected, not taken away. The Board calls on Brescia University College and the University of Western Ontario to work meaningfully with collegial governance procedures, and with faculty and staff associations at Brescia and Western to ensure that the path forward will respect and align with conditions of existing collective agreements.

Read OCUFA’s previous statement on the Brescia situation.

Focusing on Equity and Social Justice at OCUFA

OCUFA’s Equity and Social Justice Committee (ESJC) began the 2023-2024 year with events signalling its commitment to a greater action orientation and engagement with current issues impacting members at the committee’s annual Equity Training Workshop and its first meeting of the year this fall.

Read the full update from OCUFA.

CAUT welcomes changes to International Student Program

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is welcoming new measures aimed at protecting students from fraud and exploitation as outlined by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced plans last week.

“As post-secondary institutions work to grow international enrollments to make up for insufficient public funding, international students are often victims of unethical recruitment practices and inadequate supports when living in Canada. They deserve better,” said CAUT Executive Director David Robinson.

Read the full statement from CAUT.

Organizing for Climate Action: CAUT Virtual School Opened to all CUASA members – December 4-8

CAUT provides virtual workshops to assist associations in building active and knowledgeable memberships. From December 4 to 8, CAUT will be offering an Organizing for Climate Action course.

Climate change is the pressing challenge of our generation. Academic associations can play a leading role in organizing their members to help our universities and colleges reduce their environmental impacts. In this course, participants will explore how their association can organize their membership through climate change campaigns and as part of the collective bargaining process.

If you are interested in participating, please contact [email protected] by November 27.

To read earlier CAUT materials on climate action, see the brochure “Confronting Climate Change on Campus”.