The 83% vote by UVIC faculty members and librarians and near 75% vote by SFU’s to form a union out of existing faculty associations is extremely good news for academic labour in British Columbia. The difference between faculty association and union in BC is this:
The basic legal difference is that our current status is a grant of the University itself, which has agreed to bargain certain matters with faculty and librarians; certification means that those rights are granted by the Labour Board and recognized in law. Rather than a bargaining relationship in which SFU agrees to allow us to negotiate certain items, our bargaining relationship would be protected by law, and would extend to any employment matter that we would choose to negotiate.
Please UBC faculty association Executive, bring this vote for a strike clause to the membership to act as a union with full rights. The last five rounds of bargaining have been so tremendously frustrating for the membership and ground hard won is quickly eroding. Wages, piecemeal for many, of our PT members are as pitiful as they get— well below minimum wages once hours in are factored.
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SFU Faculty Association, May 15, 2014
SFU Faculty and Librarians Approve Certification as a Union
Members of the Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University have voted to become a certified union under the BC Labour Relations Code.
The results of the certification vote are as follows (the results are unofficial until confirmed by the Labour Relations Board):
Eligible voters: 1091
Votes cast: 800
Percentage turnout: 73%
The question voted upon was: “Do you want the Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University (SFUFA) to be recognized as a certified union, under the Labour Relations Code, to represent you in collective bargaining with your employer, the University?”
Total ballots: 800
Spoiled ballots: 0
Valid ballots: 800
In favour: 590
Opposed: 210
As a result of the vote, the Administration and Faculty Association must now begin negotiation of the first collective agreement.
The University Administration and Faculty Association respect the choice made by faculty members and librarians regarding their preferred form of representation. Both the Administration and the Association are committed to maintaining the positive working relationship we have enjoyed.
Jonathan Driver
Vice-President, Academic, Simon Fraser University
Neil Abramson
President, Faculty Association of SFU
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UVIC Faculty Association, January 24, 2014
On January 24, 2014 the results of the certification vote for faculty and librarians at the University of Victoria were announced. The results are as follows:
- Eligible voters: 860
- Votes cast: 711
- Percentage turnout: 82.67 per cent
The question voted upon was: “Do you want the University of Victoria Faculty Association to become a certified union that will represent you in collective bargaining with your employer?”
- Total ballots: 711
- Spoiled ballots: 0
- Valid ballots: 711
- In favour: 448
- Opposed: 263
The next step in the certification process is the issuance of a formal certification order by the Labour Relations Board of British Columbia. The Faculty Association and the University Administration are then required to commence collective bargaining in good faith with the objective of achieving a collective agreement that will replace the current Framework Agreement between the parties.
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