Words From Your President:
Where We Are & Where We're Going
By all benchmarks, 2019 was a positive year for CUPFA. We have made gains in several important areas, we have labour peace after signing our sixth Collective Agreement, and most importantly, we have more work. I am pleased to present my 2019 report to you.
OUR NEW COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
In November we signed our 6th Collective Agreement (the second such signing in less than 3 years). The Agreement runs until April 2021, which means that for the first time in over a decade we will be working under a current contract for more than 3 months. Our newest agreement generated significant salary gains, increased large-class stipends, and a hefty retroactive pay (to the tune of $2.5 million!) that you would have received in December. These monetary gains were complemented with increased seniority-list protection, limitations to non-members securing courses, a lower threshold for members to gain access to more abundant professional development funds, a lower threshold to secure tuition waivers and health plan benefits, and a memorialized agreement on the assignment and remuneration of online course development contracts (which has already reaped benefits or at least one member.)
With this new agreement, our counterparts at other Canadian universities affiliated with CAUT (representing 70000 professors), with whom we meet and exchange notes, agree that CUPFA members comprise one of the strongest constituencies in the country.
POSITIVE NEWS - JOBS AND THE LTA SITUATION
I am pleased to report that our aggregate job situation continues to improve, according to the numbers.
In the 2016-17 academic year, CUPFA members taught 1996 sections.
In the 2018-19 academic year, sections taught by CUPFA members increased to 2093 sections.
In The 2016-17 academic year, the LTA-assigned sections numbered 763.
In the 2018-19 academic year, the LTA-assigned sections deceased to 708.
Not accounting for inflation, that constitutes a net salary gain of approximately $873,000.00 .
OUR CONSTITUENCY’S COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS AND TRANSPARENCY
We continue to receive strongly positive feedback from our members about the platforms we have created, and the unprecedented transparency we have cultivated.
At our Town Hall meetings, we have an opportunity to provide members with informal updates about CUPFA’s initiatives, and members continue to provide valuable feedback for the Executive, some of which led to gains at the bargaining table. For example, the feedback received about timely access to office space and the need to review class size ceilings, among other things, have led to positive changes and ongoing talks to ultimately improve the quality of our work life.
Our “Under 24 Credits Club” have already generated positive results. Concerns expressed by our more junior members about job security has led to changes in the way “course overloads” are handled.
“Coffee/Lunch with the CUPFA President” were informal events in a more intimate setting that led to members expressing a variety of diverse concerns. For example, it was at one of these sessions that I was made aware of concerns about threatening behaviour in the classroom. We subsequently hosted two seminars related to handling these concerns, and the Provost’s office has assured me that they will have two additional seminars related to this concern in the spring. As well, the Provost’s office confirmed to me that resources will be made available to any CUPFA member who has an immediate need to address such issues. All of this after a brief discussion over a coffee!
On a personal note, it was a pleasure to speak to many of you on a one-to-one basis, be it face-to-face or by phone. Very early on in my mandate I committed to have a “7-day, 7-night” policy, as members were not always available during the regular work week due to other professional or personal obligations. This flexibility proved very popular with you over the last couple of years, and allowed me the opportunity to address your concerns in a timely manner.
RELATIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
In early December, CUPFA hosted our 2nd annual Department Chairs and Assistants luncheon meeting, affording your CUPFA Executive and staff a chance to meet and exchange thoughts in an informal environment. In attendance were the Provost, Deputy Provost and two Deans, as well as the new university President, Graham Carr, who expressed his satisfaction about the unprecedented collegial relations enjoyed between CUPFA and the University, contributing to a win-win environment.
Inter-Union Council
I chair the Inter-Union Council, a committee comprised of the presidents of all Concordia’s sister unions. In 2019 we met every few weeks, providing an important forum to share common concerns about our employer surrounding collective bargaining and a variety of other issues. This table has become a strong force and I personally take an active role in initiatives to support our sister unions. To wit, when a couple of our sister unions brought the issue of respect at the negotiation table, CUPFA was a vocal and active supporter of demands for change (even though our own table was not at issue. This is the essence of solidarity.) When CULEU reached out to CUPFA for support at an event designed to promote awareness, CUPFA took an active role in assisting. We share common concerns with CUCEPTFU, CARE and TRAC, particularly in the area of pensions, so we have met with their respective presidents to work together whenever necessary. The solidarity I enjoy with the presidents of our sister unions is invaluable for all of our associations, as we stand together and united.
Concordia Student Union
Students are represented by The Concordia Student Union, and Nick Papatheodorakos (in his role as CUPFA’s External Relations Chair) and I have the pleasure of both supporting and engaging with the leaders of this association. The current CSU leaders are bright, imaginative, and committed. We have consulted with each other on a few issues, and both sides benefit from each others’ perspectives.
For the last two and half years, I have been meeting with Chairs, Department Administrators, Deans, the Provost and Deputy Provosts, working to ensure that we repatriate work that was lost to LTAs. Although the numbers speak for themselves, there is still much to do. Although the aggregate numbers are trending positively, there remain a small number of outlier departments which are proving a little slower…It is these departments on which I will focus attentions in 2020.
OUTREACH – EXTERNAL
Nick Papatheodorakos and I continue to meet regularly with our sister unions from across Canada to forge relations. Nick has won CUPFA's first Committee seat at CAUT, giving our union a national presence. Bravo Nick!
Additionally, I presented at a CAUT national conference, as did Patrice Blais at another national event, raising CUPFA’s profile across the country.
OUTREACH – INTERNAL
In 2019 it was a pleasure to meet with many of you at specific departmental-themed meetings. I was delighted to have had meaningful exchanges with members of the French, Education, AHS, Mathematics, Creative Art Therapies, Marketing, and Studio Arts departments, and to have further individual, private exchanges with members of all 54 departments at various times in 2019. This is indeed the best way to glean relevant information that ultimately leads to more productive relations with our employer.
GRAHAM CARR - THE NEW UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
From CUPFA’s perspective, the transition in the university’s president’s office from Alan Shepard’s 7-year tenure to Graham Carr has been seamless. Over the last three years I had met with Graham many times while he was the university’s Provost, during which time he proved to be attentive to our concerns. I anticipate that he will continue to “steer the ship” in a direction consistent with that of his predecessor.
LABOUR MANAGEMENT RELATIONS
Between attempts at informal resolution and full-blown grievance, I, along with Patrice Blais and Nick Paptheodorakos, worked to resolve outstanding issues within this parity committee. Some of the issues we have addressed range from the scarcity of, and access to, office space (shared or private) to questionable posting requirements, and everything in between. This success we have enjoyed at this committee has resulted in reduction of grievances and improved relations at the bargaining table.
EXPANSION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Our new Collective Agreement scored good increases in newly available Professional Development funds. Now let’s put those funds to good use! (Please click here to review our Platform)
OUR 2019 HOLIDAY DINNER AND 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Our 3rd annual 2019 Holiday Dinner was an unqualified success. Our new venue sat over 270 members and their dining partners, who enjoyed good music, cuisine, and raffle prizes as we jointly celebrated CUPFA’s 30th anniversary. This dinner has replaced other smaller events, which attracted very low rates of attendance and were not cost effective. The overwhelming feedback received from our members is to continue this annual occasion to celebrate and enhance our collegiality.
MEMBER PARTICIPATION ON COMMITTEES
I am fortified by the number of members who responded to last year’s email to become involved with CUPFA in some way. Your active participation on these important and relevant committees contributes positively to the University culture and direction, while building our Association’s profile. (See Committee Work and YOU below.)
The To Do List
As positive as the news is, there are a number of initiatives I will be addressing in 2020:
Negotiations and YOU : Historically we surveyed members to assess what our focus should be at the bargaining table. In the last couple of years, we have also incorporated our public platforms, such as our Town Halls and the Under-24 Club, as well as our Pension and Benefits information session hosted by our Treasurer June Riley (representing us on our new seats on the Benefits and Pension Committees) for input.
In 2020 I will be introducing another element. Before going to the bargaining table, I will invite members to a general meeting at which time your Negotiation Team will present to you a PROJECT. We will ask for your feedback and ultimately your ratification of the Project. This Project will be the foundation of our negotiations.
Professional Development and YOU : With significant funds at CUPFA’s disposal, more of our members in more Departments must be made aware of what funds we have available and what projects can be financed. As well, members must be made aware about how these funds are being used in a timely manner. This will entail refining the PDF allocation process to be more transparent, democratic and accountable.
Communications and YOU : In keeping with the advances made in media communications, our modes of communications - be it CUPFA News, notices, videos or our website - will be explored to enhance our image in a dynamic manner.
Committee Work and YOU : I am fortified by the number of members who responded to last year’s email to become involved with CUPFA in some way. In April we will once again be sending an email reminding members to submit their candidacy to sit on one of the University committees, and our department representatives will be promoting new committee opportunities that arise, all of which are critical to strengthening our collective solidarity.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Last year at this time, I mentioned that perhaps the most gratifying result of our increased communication efforts is the increased volume of emails and calls I have been receiving from you asking for help on issues big and small.
I and my team look forward to continuing efforts to ensure that our working conditions are optimized in every meaningful way. (Click here to see what CUPFA members are saying)