Season’s Greetings!
Dear Kwantlen Faculty Association Members,
Season’s Greetings! I’m sure you are looking forward to a well-deserved break in your busy schedules and to spending time with family and friends during the holidays.
As 2018 draws to a close, it seems an opportune time to reflect on the work YourKFA has been doing over the past year. In addition to our necessarily persistent efforts to uphold all aspects of the Collective Agreement, two notable highlights come to mind. One is our successful push back on the over enrollment of Arts and Business courses in the summer semester. Recognizing that increasing class size registration limits violated the terms of our Agreement, the Employer ceased and desisted from repeating this practice, and we are now engaged in discussions about appropriate compensation for faculty members affects. Another highlight was the addition of the Decolonization, Reconciliation and Indigenization Committee (DRIC) to our Association structure and the inclusion of the DRIC chair as a voting member of the KFA Executive. We look forward to the important work this committee will be embarking on to help foster a truth-based, right relationship with the Indigenous peoples on whose traditional territories we live and work.
Looking ahead to 2019, preparations have already begun in support of bargaining a new collective agreement, as well as our continued advocacy and support for all of our members.
The KFA office will close as of noon Friday, December 21st and reopen on Tuesday, January 2. If you require assistance during this closure, please email any of the Table Officers. We will be checking email intermittently over the holidays.
On behalf of the KFA Executive and staff we would like to wish all of you a happy holiday season and the very best in 2019.
Warmest regards,
Raphael, Kyla, Amy, Romy, Diane, Suzanne, and Bob.
Bargaining Update
Hello KFA Members!
The Labour Relations Code of BC states: “Either party to a collective agreement, whether entered into before or after the coming into force of this Code, may at any time within 4 months immediately preceding the expiry of the agreement, by written notice require the other party to commence collective bargaining.”
On Monday, December 3, 2018 at 11am, FPSE locals across our sector served Notice to Bargain to their Employers. This included your KFA. The Labour Relations Code of BC also states that the parties must meet within 10 days of the notice being served. Your KFA Bargaining Team will now coordinate with the employer for meeting dates in order to begin negotiations.
In Solidarity,
Raphael Lagoutin, VP Negotiations
KFA Response to Potential Section Reductions
To all KFA Members,
It has come to our attention that conflicting information is being circulated with regard to the development of the 2019-20 University Budget, specifically concerning number of course offerings.
We are aware that correspondence has been sent to some Chairs requesting recommendations for section reductions, and we are aware that the Deans and Senior Administration met last weekend to discuss the current situation.
However, the KFA have also had specific discussions with the VP Finance regarding the current state of University finances, and we see significant discrepancies between the information provided therein, and the actions being required of Chairs.
We want to assure you that we are continuing to seek clarification as to why these particular actions are being recommended, and we will convey to you any useful information we receive as soon as possible. At this time, however, we urge you to exercise extreme caution should you be asked to identify potential course or section reductions.
Please contact any of our Table Officers with any questions.
In solidarity,
On behalf of the KFA Table Officers
Bob
Grievance Regarding the Faculty of Academic & Career Advancement
The KFA has formally grieved the recent actions of the Senior Leadership regarding the Faculty of Academic & Career Advancement (FACA).
You have probably already learned about the sweeping changes that are being ordered without transparency, without consultation, and without any due process being followed. We contend that the Employer is violating the Agreement by exceeding their management rights, is violating the Agreement by creating a hostile and intimidating work environment for the faculty affected, and is violating both University Policy and the University Act.
The changes being ordered will result in the discontinuance of the Faculty of Academic & Career Advancement, the splitting of the Academic & Career Preparation department and the moving of the parts to different Faculties, the deletion of some of programming of the Academic & Career Preparation department (the mode that enables the delivery of literacy and fundamental level programming), and the moving of the English Language Studies department, all without proper or fair consultation being undertaken. All of these academic decisions have been taken out of the hands of the departments, the Faculties, and Senate.
An open letter from the Academic and Career Advancement Faculty Council outlining these concerns in more detail is available here: Open-Letter-FACA-November-2018.
These moves are troubling in themselves, and we will vigorously defend the rights of all these faculty members.
However, we also view these actions, taken with other recent examples, as troubling indications of unwillingness to consult appropriately and collegially on decisions that directly impact faculty members and the education that we seek to deliver. This grievance thus serves to defend the rights not only of FACA faculty members, but also to defend the more general right of all faculty members to be assured of collegial consultation in matters that directly affect us and to be assured of a healthy and transparent governance structure.
We will provide further updates as events unfold.
Last Call for Nominations for 2018 KFA Elections
Dear Kwantlen Faculty Association Members,
In accordance with Article 7 of our Constitution and By-Laws, this is the last call for nominations for the following positions:
- Non-Regular Faculty Representative (November 2018 to June 2020)
- Decolonization, Reconciliation and Indigenization Representative (November 2018 to June 2019)
Nomination Period – October 30 to November 19, 2018
The nomination period runs from October 30 to November 19, 2018. Nomination forms are to be sent to the Chief Returning Officer (C.R.O.), Kyla Rand. Three calls for nominations will be made during this time period. In the event that the call for nominations results in only one nomination being received by the close of the nomination period, the nominee shall be acclaimed at the General Meeting on Tuesday, November 20, 2018.
The nominations received to date are as follows:
| Nominee | Nominator | Position |
| Azar Pakdaman-Savoji | Diane Walsh | Non-Regular Faculty Representative |
|
Seema Ahluwalia Joanne Massey |
Suzanne Pearce Christina Heinrick |
Decolonization, Reconciliation and Indigenization Representative
|
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can find more information about the election process on our website.
Diane Walsh, Vice-President, Grievances
Officer Responsible for the Election
Second Call for Nominations for 2018 KFA Elections
Dear Kwantlen Faculty Association Members,
In accordance with Article 7 of our Constitution and By-Laws, this is the second call for nominations for the following positions:
- Non-Regular Faculty Representative (November 2018 to June 2020)
- Decolonization, Reconciliation and Indigenization Representative (November 2018 to June 2019)
Nomination Period – October 30 to November 19, 2018
The nomination period runs from October 30 to November 19, 2018. Nomination forms are to be sent to the Chief Returning Officer (C.R.O.), Kyla Rand. Three calls for nominations will be made during this time period. In the event that the call for nominations results in only one nomination being received by the close of the nomination period, the nominee shall be acclaimed at the General Meeting on Tuesday, November 20, 2018.
The nominations received to date are as follows:
| Nominee | Nominator | Position |
| Azar Pakdaman-Savoji | Diane Walsh | Non-Regular Faculty Representative |
| Decolonization, Reconciliation and Indigenization Representative |
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can find more information about the election process on our website.
Diane Walsh, Vice-President, Grievances
Officer Responsible for the Election
University Policy AR 17 – Academic Schedule and Course Timetabling
Hello Colleagues,
As you may be aware, a significant revision to University policy AR 17 – Academic Schedule and Course Timetabling, is currently posted on the University policy blog for comment.
A number of faculty members have contacted the KFA office expressing concerns about this policy, and we thank everyone who has done so.
The closing date for posting comments on the policy blog is November 30, and we want to encourage everyone who is interested in or concerned about this policy (and/or any other policies posted on the blog for comment) to log in and leave comments expressing your thoughts on what it proposes. You are entitled to comment, we uphold and defend your right to do so, and we hope you will take advantage of this right. Please keep in mind that, even if a previous comment has captured your own position, there may be value in echoing or re-affirming it.
In addition, we encourage you to tell us what you think about the policy, by emailing one of the Table Officers, dropping by the KFA office in Surrey Fir 226, or attending an Open Office Hours session at your home campus. We are endeavoring to meet with the policy developers and to discuss faculty concerns with them directly.
In solidarity,
Bob Davis
Diane Walsh
Raphael Lagoutin
Suzanne Pearce
Romy Kozak
First Call for Nominations for 2018 KFA Elections
Dear Kwantlen Faculty Association Members,
In accordance with Article 7 of our Constitution and By-Laws, this is the first call for nominations for the following positions:
- Non-Regular Faculty Representative (November 2018 to June 2020)
- Decolonization, Reconciliation and Indigenization Representative (November 2018 to June 2019)
Nomination Period – October 30 to November 19, 2018
The nomination period runs from October 30 to November 19, 2018. Nomination forms are to be sent to the Chief Returning Officer (C.R.O.), Kyla Rand. Three calls for nominations will be made during this time period. In the event that the call for nominations results in only one nomination being received by the close of the nomination period, the nominee shall be acclaimed at the General Meeting on Tuesday, November 20, 2018.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can find more information about the election process on our website.
Diane Walsh, Vice-President, Grievances
Officer Responsible for the Election
KFA General Meeting
Update on the Over-Enrollment Grievance
Dear Colleagues,
This is to update you on the over-enrollment grievance.
We are very happy to be able to tell you that the Employer has committed in writing to refrain from over-enrolling classes without the KFA’s consent. We have received a revised Step 3 grievance memo specifying that commitment. This is a big step forward in this matter, and we are satisfied with this commitment to refrain from over-enrolling classes.
The matter of compensation for those faculty members who were subjected to over-enrolled classes this past summer remains outstanding, but the Employer has also committed to proceeding in good faith to address this. The KFA will be meeting with the Employer as soon as possible to finalize the matter and ensure all faculty get compensated.
All your support throughout this difficult grievance process has been very helpful, and we thank you for it.
We will keep you informed.
In solidarity,
Your KFA officers:
Bob Davis
Diane Walsh
Raphael Lagoutin
Suzanne Pearce
Romy Kozak
