The Communiqué: Volume 47, No. 6 – December 3, 2024

In This Issue:

• CUASA Bargaining News
• Letter From CUASA President on Retirement Incentive Package
• Budget Feedback
• Update on the Salary Adjustment Commission
• From Carleton
• Upcoming Events and Other News
• Updates from OCUFA and CAUT
• Get involved!

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Bargaining News

CUASA’s Negotiating Team met with the Employer on November 25th. At this meeting the Employer presented their non-financial amendments and returned with several counters from CUASA’s earlier submissions. The employer also came with a list of Letters of Understanding (LOA) that they proposed to delete. Non-financial articles under negotiation affect workload, leaves, health and safety, and grievances. CUASA is determined to negotiate towards better working conditions for our members and a better future for the wider Carleton community.

We return to the table on December 5th. Bargaining sessions with the Employer are scheduled for December 5th, 10th, 11th, 16th and 18th.

Watch your email and the CUASA website for bargaining updates going forward!

The 2021-24 Collective Agreement remains in force until a new agreement is concluded by both parties, or until a lockout or strike. CUASA will continue to regularly inform its members on collective bargaining.

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Letter From the President on Retirement Incentive Package

On November 22, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) L. Pauline Rankin and Interim Vice-President (Finance and Administration) Angela Marcotte announced a Volunteer Retirement Incentive Planfor professional staff and faculty members. The plan was presented as one component of the Financial Sustainability Framework announced on November 8.

The lack of consultation with the union and many unanswered questions about the plan prompted this response from CUASA’s President.

We continue to research what the program will mean for our members and the larger Carleton community. Given the short time allocated for eligible CUASA members to make a decision, we urge you read the information provided by Carleton carefully, consult with Carleton Human Resources and your personal financial advisor before making a decision.

If you have questions or concerns that remain unanswered please be in touch with us at [email protected].

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Budget Feedback

In their email of November 8th the Vice-Presidents asked the Carleton community to contribute their thoughts on addressing the budgetary deficit calling for a collective effort to financial challenges. CUASA encourages members to fill out the form Carleton provided. Let the administration know that you expect them to help safeguard the future of the institution in ways that protect the Carleton community and the quality education CUASA members provide.

Please send a copy your suggestions to CUASA at [email protected]. If you would like to send your suggestions to Carleton anonymously please fill out this survey and CUASA will send them on your behalf. If you are inclined to bring your concerns and ideas to social media please tag us @cuasa and the University @Carleton_U and use the hashtags #CarletonStrong and #CUASAworks.

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Update on the Salary Adjustment Commission

Back in May, we shared that the salary adjustment process for CUASA members was being put on hold while CUASA and Carleton University sought the assistance of a mediator to determine updated terms for the Salary Adjustment Commission to carry out its work.

Following mediated sessions with Andrew Tremayne in May and July, the parties were able to come to an agreement and in October, we signed a Memorandum of Settlement that included an updated Appendix E outlining the new process for the SAC to perform salary reviews for CUASA members.

The new Appendix E terms can be found here. Below, we summarize the updated procedures for the SAC:

Structure of the Commission

• The Commission is made up of four members: Two appointed by the University and two by the Association, each serving renewable two-year terms.
• Quorum requires equal representation from both parties to ensure balanced decision-making.
• Members appointed by CUASA shall be tenured and shall be from two different faculties.

Mandate and Procedures

• The Commission’s primary responsibility is to review and recommend adjustments to address obvious inequities in salary. These adjustments are evaluated using clear criteria, such as discipline, rank, career progression, and year of hire.
• Under the new terms for the Salary Adjustment Commission, applications are no longer being considered on the basis of special merit or market differentials. Only adjustments sought on the basis of obvious inequity will be considered.
• That said, the University may unilaterally respond to competitive employment offers, a task previously given to the SAC. The Association will be notified of such decisions.

CUASA urges members to take an active role in this consultations. If you have thoughts or concerns you would like CUASA to forward please be in touch at [email protected] we are attending meetings and preparing proposals and would appreciate your input. 

Board of Governors Call for Observers: Dec. 4     The Carleton University Board of Governors will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Members of the community are welcome to observe the open session which begins at 3 p.m. Those interested in attending the open session are asked to email University Secretary, Amanda Goth, by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Call for Nominations: Faculty Members to Serve on University-wide Tenure and Promotion Committees     The Carleton University Senate is calling for nominations for full-time CUASA faculty members to serve on the Tenure and Promotions Appeal Committee (TPAC) and the University Promotions Committee (UPC) for the 2024/25 academic year. The deadline to submit a self-nomination is Dec. 6. Click on the links above to learn more about eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Understanding and Honouring Indigenous Forms of Identity and Belonging Town Halls     The Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement and the Office of the Associate Vice-President (Indigenous Teaching, Learning and Research) are working towards the implementation of The Hiring Policy for Positions Limited to Indigenous (First Nation, Inuit and Métis) Candidatesand the Admissions and Awards Limited to Indigenous (First Nation, Métis and Inuit) Candidates Policyapproved and adopted earlier this year. Both are available online at https://carleton.ca/secretariat/policies. Two townhalls Understanding and Honouring Indigenous Forms of Identity and Belonging Town Halls will happen in the new year. The sessions will provide historical context on issues related to Indigenous identity and outline how the University’s new policies aim to address these challenges.

• Tuesday, Jan. 28, 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Dunton Tower 2017)
• Wednesday, Feb. 19, 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Dunton Tower 2017)

You can register on Carleton’s Indigenous Gathering Site to take part in these important conversations.

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Upcoming Events and Other News

No Work for Genocide: Striking for Palestine     This seminar is organised jointly by the Seminar in Contemporary Marxist Theory and University and College Workers for Palestine, with the endorsement of the King’s College London UCU Branch. “The only power we have to support the heroic resistance of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples is the power we have in our hands as workers. … In this seminar we will hear first-hand from workers and organisers from Palestine, the United States, Italy, and Australia who have been at the heart of these initiatives and reflect on the current global conjuncture and the strategies to strengthen our common struggle for liberation.” Wednesday 4 December 2024, 11 AM. This is an online event. More information and registration can be found here.

University Affairs – Gender Equity Survey   University Affairs will be releasing a special issue in the new year examining the status of women in the academy. As part of their ongoing coverage, they need your help to provide a deeper understanding of the gender biases and challenges that women, and gender minorities, face at Canadian universities. Faculty and administrative staff member at a Canadian university are invited to fill out the survey – regardless of your gender –  to help  better understand these challenges and propose concrete solutions to promote gender equity in academic settings. This survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The deadline for completion is Dec. 12, 2024. All responses will be kept confidential. All those who complete the survey will be entered into a draw for a chance to win one of 10 Amazon gift cards valued at $100.

University Affairs, founded in 1959, is a magazine and website published by Universities Canada (formerly the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada), that includes editorials and articles written for an academic audience.

Scholars at Risk(SAR) – Fundraising     CUASA has been a passionate advocate of the Scholars at Risk(SAR) program and a major force behind its success since its inception at Carleton. The SAR program at Carleton University, initiated by CUASA, has become a robust initiative supported by Carleton and global partners like the Scholars at Risk network and the Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF). The program has provided a safe haven for 14 scholars from around the world, offering them the freedom to live and conduct research away from the threats of surveillance, repression, and violence. Testimonials highlight the program’s profoundpositive impact on the lives of these scholars. By supporting the program, contributors join a global effort to uphold human rights and academic freedom. The program’s success depends on donations through Carleton’s Future Funder campaign. Support can be pledged through the Future Funder here.

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Updates from OCUFA and CAUT

CAUT Bulletin — November-December 2024

CAUT survey on Indigenous academic staff experiences CAUT’s Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education working group has launched a survey to assess the experiences of Indigenous academic staff working at universities, colleges and polytechnics across Canada. The working group encourages all Indigenous staff to respond and share with colleagues. The survey takes about 35 to 45 minutes to complete. Take the survey or share the link. The deadline for completion has been extended to January 17, 2025.

Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa receives strong strike mandate.      Members of the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa (APUO) voted 80.9% in favour of a strike mandate as negotiations with the university administration continue. Continue Reading

Provincial government cannot blame the international student cap for university crisis.     To describe the crisis that universities are facing at the moment, imagine this. Imagine you built a car decades ago and it was a world-class car envied the world over. It was beautiful and reliable. However, in the last few years you didn’t invest and maintain it at all. Your car is still running but […] Continue Reading

Bargaining update: King’s University.      The King’s University College Faculty Association has anew three-year collective agreement, supported by a strong strike vote to endorse the work of the bargaining team. Members made gains on their major mandate goals of compensation, equitable employment, and workload, among others. In an important change under the new agreement, academic librarians are now members of […] Continue Reading

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Get involved!

CUASA’s 2SLBGTQIA+ Pride Caucus and Disability Caucus are now meeting regularly, and are happy to welcome new members. These caucus groups are intended to be an informal 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. Groups usually meet once a month.

If you are interested in participating in these caucus groups, please contact CUASA’s Equity and Member Services Officer, Max López, at [email protected] for more details.