Volume 28, No. 3    Editor: Mark Langer                    September 1997



WHAT IS CUASA AND WHAT DO WE DO?



For over two decades CUASA has been working to provide all academic staff

with fair compensation, equitable working conditions, and a stable

environment for the development their academic careers. We would like to

begin our twenty-second year by re introducing you to the component parts

of the Association and the jobs that they do. 



The STEERING COMMITTEE is CUASA's day-to-day directing body. It consists

of the president, past-president, and president-elect of the Association

plus the other elected officers (the secretary, treasurer, and chairs of

four standing committees). CUASA Council also elects three of its members

to serve on this committee. Steering meets every week to discuss all

matters relevant to the interests of members, ranging from the details of

a particular dispute to broad strategic issues. Steering also maintains a

watching brief over the progress of negotiations, which are carried out

separately by the Association's six-member NEGOTIATING TEAM, whose members

will be elected by Council later this month. 



The present, past and future PRESIDENTS -- respectively Peter Fitzgerald

(History), Steve Wilson (Religion) and Mike Fox (Geography) -- share legal

responsibility for CUASA's actions. They approve normal expenditure and

serve (along with the treasurer) as trustees for the Academic Defence

Fund. Los tre amigos meet regularly with senior managers to administer the

collective agreement, with a view to heading off potential problems before

they become actual ones. They also have first responsibility for

recommending whether the Association should accept or reject specific

contract terms negotiated with management. The current president also

chairs the monthly meetings of Council, represents the Association

officially both within and outside the university, and in general is the

place where the buck and the brickbats stop. Peter Fitzgerald wants your

input and suggestions. Call him at 5607 or 2838 or send an email to

epfitzg@ccs.carleton.ca



The EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Association, Pat Finn, manages the

day-to-day operations of CUASA. Pat ("she who must be obeyed ") knows the

collective agreement backwards and forwards and has accumulated a wealth

of experience in dealing with its provisions. She also holds a Master's

degree in labour law and is one of the few people actually to have read

the Ontario Labour Relations Act. Pat should be your first point of

contact when you have a specific question about your rights and

responsibilities at Carleton. Stop by to see her at the CUASA office, 408

Dt,, or call call 5607 ((email pfinn@ccs.. carleton.. ca).). 





CUASA COUNCIL consists of the colleagues you elect to represent your own

academic unit. Council meets monthly to discuss and determine the policies

of the Association. Steering Committee refers all important matters to

Council, and no expenditure in excess of $1,000 can be made without a

formal vote of Council. Council also must approve every single item of the

mandate which is given to the Negotiating Team, which Council elects.

Council maintains six functional committees, the most important of which

are the Grievance Committee chaired by Alistair Tilson, (English) and the

Salary and Benefits Committee chaired by John Callahan (Business). Council

is your voice in deternining the goals and actions of the Association.

Make sure your voice is heard and that your unit is fully represented on

Council. 



In short, there are two sharp contrasts between CUASA and the other side

of the table, and this is something we can legitimately be proud of.

First, apart from Pat Finn (who is CUASA's sole full-time employee), none

of the officers of the Association receives a single dollar in salary or

stipend. Your dues are spent on policies and activities, period. Second,

the Academic Staff Association is a completely democratic outfit. Nothing

significant can be done without your approval. On both counts, that's a

far cry from the way things work down in Robertson Hall. 



DUE PROCESS ... OR DONE DEAL?



If you ever find yourself accused of misconduct of any kind, we urge you

to contact the CUASA office imnediately. We know that in such

circumstances it is natural for the accused person to feel angry and

embarrassed and to want to start clearing his or her name right there on

the spot. Unfortunately things are not that simple; having done nothing

wrong is, it seems, no longer a sufficient defence at Carleton. Management

has told CUASA that among the options they will consider when addressing

allegations is the option of settling the matter on the complainant's

terms, regardless of whether the allegations put forward have any factual

foundation. 



CUASA has no interest in obstructing the investigation of complaints

against the conduct of academic staff. But we have a very great interest

in making sure that such inquiries are fair and carried out with full

regard for due process and the rights of all concerned - including the

rights of the accused person. For most types of complaints, CUASA can

provide you with valuable legal advice on your rights and how they may be

protected from managers who see expediency as a high virtue. As a member

of the Association you are entitled to this service free of charge. Under

certain conditions you are also entitled to legal representation when such

complaints are pursued. 



In short, it really is in your interest to contact CUASA if you find

yourself on the receiving end of a formal complaint about your

professional conduct. We will do all that we reasonably can to assist you.

And, of course, assistance can extend to a broad range of lesser matters

as well -- just about anything involving the interpretation and

application of the collective agreement. So please make use of our

services. We're your Association, and we're here to help you.