Subject to Approval
Minutes of the Meeting of the BUFA Executive Committee
Wednesday, January 25, 2006, 3:40 p.m., Room 427 CHO
PRESENT: B. Forrest (Chair), W. Paton, M. Malainey, J. Forsythe, T. MacNeill, K.
Nichol, D. Eberts, W. Bowman, A. Bowman, W. Hillman, M. Barrett (Recording
Secretary)
REGRETS: J. Dolecki, S. Peden, D. Oleson
1. Approval of Agenda
The following items were added:
Under 3. (j) Evaluations Form;
Under 5. (f)
MOFA Report –Correspondence from CAUT and
Under 6 Correspondence: (i) BOG Award for Excellence in Community Service
Under 7 Other Business: (b) Replacement for Tom Mitchell on BUAA.
MOTION 06:001 (Paton/Forsythe)
2. Minutes of Previous Meeting
MOTION 06.002 (Paton/W. Bowman)
THAT the Minutes of the BUFA Executive Meeting of November 30, 2005 be adopted as circulated.
CARRIED
3. Business Arising from Minutes
a) Election of Education Representative – A call for nominations was circulated to faculty members in Education seeking a replacement for Julie Ann Kniskern who is on sabbatical leave effective January 1, 2006. The deadline has passed with one nomination having been received for Thom MacNeill.
MOTION 06.003 (Paton/Eberts)
THAT Thom MacNeill be elected Education Representative on the BUFA Executive until elections at the Annual General Meeting in April 2006. CARRIED
b) Policy of Respectful Workplaces - No report.
c) Evaluation of Senior Administrators – W. Paton reported that this is in progress.
d) Interim Steering Committee / Faculty of Education – A restructuring model was passed by the Faculty of Education. T. MacNeill provided information.
- Workload of Rick Nickelchok – The fund-raising role of R. Nickelchok’s contract should be outside of BUFA and should be adjusted according to D. Pople’s previous situation. B. Forrest will write to S. Lamont.
e) CAUT Healthcare Coverage for Retirees – M. Barrett reported that she had contacted retirees by email, and G. and A. Neufeld had responded that they were not aware of the program. This information had been circulated to the membership last summer, and names of retirees had been forwarded to CAUT and the Manulife Insurance Company at that time. M. Barrett attempted to obtain current contact information on retirees from Human Resources. They cannot release this due to privacy regulations, but would be willing to forward the information for BUFA. By consensus, Human Resources will be requested to do so.
f) Reports on Harry Crowe Foundation Conference on Academic Freedom Post – 9/11 – R. Henley’s report was circulated to the Executive with the Agenda. May Yoh’s report is forthcoming. She has advised that she will not submit her expense claim until she has submitted her report.
g) Report on Western Regional Conference – W. Paton is drafting a Newsletter that will include the WRC report. He advised that BUFA is scheduled to host the WRC in the fall of 2008. By consensus, this should be switched to another year so that it does not conflict with negotiations.
h) BUFA Website – G. Neufeld has agreed to take over as Webmaster. Josh Piche was contacted and has forwarded some information regarding accessing the site.
i) CAUT Senior
Grievance Officers Workshop – D. Oleson was not able to attend the workshop
held in
j) Evaluations Form – W. Bowman pointed out that under Article 11.2 the process is not appropriate in terms of the old CA. He will send a copy with his comments to the BUFA office.
4. Treasurer’s Report
a) Financial Report – M. Malainey reported that the Direct Deposit of membership dues is working well.
b) Investment Committee Recommendation – On January 17th the Treasurer emailed to the Executive the recommendations of the Investment Committee from its meeting of January 11th. M. Malainey addressed the recommendation.
MOTION 06.004 (Forsythe/Nichol)
THAT the Investment Committee’s recommendations from its meeting of January 11, 2006 be approved. CARRIED
D. Eberts raised a question concerning ethical investments. The recommendation is to follow the advise of Berkshire Securities.
c) CAUT Academic Freedom Fund – BUFA’s fifth and final $2,000 annual contribution has been sent to the CAUT Academic Freedom Fund. M. Malainey noted that BUFA’s $10,000 total is comparable to that of larger institutions.
5. Committee Reports
a) Negotiating Committee – B. Forrest reported that the hearing held on January 21st went fairly well. Some additional documents were tabled by both sides. B. Forrest has circulated emails addressing the overstatement of BU’s salary bill. The question is what did they do with the other million? This puts doubts on all of their figures. BUFA has until the end of next week to reply to new exhibits they have tabled. The Arbitrator then has another 21 days to respond.
b) Sessional Representative’s Report – W. Hillman requested guidance on his role as sessional rep. It was suggested that he contact Dale Lakevold and Gary McNeely. A special meeting of the BUFA Executive should be arranged within the next couple of months.
c) Status of Women Review Committee – By consensus, the report of the SWRC today and in future will be heard from K. Nichol, Chair, rather than M. Malainey, BUFA’s rep. K. Nichol reported that the first meeting of the Women’s Research Network was held on December 19. The plan is to carry on with this. National Women’s Day is March 8. The SWRC did nominate a student for the Women of Distinction Award.
d) Benefits Committee – A replacement will be sought for Julie Ann Kniskern who is on sabbatical leave from January 1 – June 30, 2006. An email will be circulated to the membership.
e) Pension Trustees – B. Forrest reported that the next meeting would be held in February. He further advised that he is now the Chair.
f) MOFA – W. Paton reported that a MOFA meeting had been held that related to the Federal Election. No BUFA reps were able to attend. It was followed by another one that R. Henley attended. To summarize these meetings, MOFA continues under UMFA’s thumb.
- Donation to Target Education – A $2,000 donation from MOFA was approved by MOFA reps.
- BUFA / BUNTEP Meetings re: UCN – W. Paton reported that on December 6 an important meeting involving UCN, BU, Vince Stoneman, and COPSE was held. It was felt that the only route to follow was political / public as there was concern that Vince Stoneman would be fired from BUNTEP. L. Visentin changed his mind about giving up BUNTEP. As a consequence of his letter and meeting with the Legislature, the Minister replied in writing that a transition committee is to be set up in January. B. Forrest has written in regards to this, but has received no reply. V. Stoneman is currently on sick leave. BUNTEP members have put together a document re: the transition. R. Henley has a copy of the draft CA signed with MGEU, who has been designated the bargaining agent. Valuable information from the lawyers – confirmed by CAUT – is that BUFA remains the bargaining agent for BUNTEP.
g) Sexual Harrassment Committee – No report.
h) SUDS Board of Directors – A replacement for Heidi Engelhardt will be needed as she is resigning from BU in July.
i) Council of Unions – CAUT Training Modules re: Health & Safety and Asbestos – No dates have been set for this yet. W. Paton will look into it.
j) Workplace Safety & Health Committee – No report, but Minutes are posted on the Web.
k) Joint Administrative Committee – has not met.
l) Joint Consultative Committee – has not met.
m) Board of Governors Meeting – W. Paton reported that the BOG meets on January 26. The agenda of Open Session includes a review of Human Resources by CAUBO, and a recommendation to hire more staff; the restructuring model and implied commencement date for the Faculty of Education Council; Revised Policy on academic administrators excluded from BUFA (W. Paton noted that J. Williams’ administrative stipend is $23,000); appointment of Yasmin Hajian as the BOG rep on the SWRC. A policy apparently exists for reimbursement of travel within the city limits since 1998, under outlined conditions. W. Paton will obtain a copy and this information will be circulated to BUFA members. The policy was approved by PAG. W. Paton will provide D. Eberts with copies of documents relating to the review of Human Resources, and Academic Administrators.
n) Grievance Committee
- MLB re: positions of Director of
International Activities / Director of Rural Development / Director of
Enrolment Services –The arbitration hearing
has been scheduled for May 9 and 10, commencing at 9:30 a.m.
each day, at the
- / Women’s Basketball Coach Contract – The
hearing will be held March 9 and 10 in
- Men’s Basketball Coaching Position – The hearing
will be held April 12 and 13, commencing 9:30 a.m. each day, at the
- Garry Nicol – The hearing will be held June 13 and 14 commencing at 9:30 a.m. in Room 104, Clark Hall.
- Jean Graveline – D. Oleson reported that L. Ross has withdrawn the contentious letter, but she advised that another letter is coming. The grievance has not yet been withdrawn.
6. Correspondence
a)
b) Faculty Position in Physics – B. Forrest has written to J. Williams asking why a position in Physics has been advertised as two-year term instead of probationary. J. Williams replied that two years remain on M. Carrington’s Canada Research Chair and no one will be hired unless a tenure track position is opened up and then T. Fugleberg will get it. B. Forrest will circulate this response to the Executive.
c) CAUT Collective Bargaining Conference, February
3 – 6, 2006,
d) CAUT Chief Negotiators Forum, March 24 – 26,
2006,
e) CAUT Call for Nominations to CAUT Executive – Deadlines for nominations to the CAUT Executive are March 1, and to the Standing Committees are February 1. Information will be emailed to the BUFA membership.
f) CAUT Alternative Fifth Year Review of
g) Women’s Future Fund – Information is available on [www.womensfuturefund.com] The purpose of CAUT’s memo is to ask local associations to assist the Women’s Future Fund in negotiating access to their university’s workplace giving programs so that members have the option of donating to the WFF through payroll deduction. T. MacNeill suggested that if Human Resources won’t allow access, BUFA might consider making a donation. Further discussion was deferred to next meeting.
h) Senate Scholarship Office – BUFA Scholarship Recipients for 2005/06 Regular Session are Stephanie Buri, Kevin Henry, Kathy Tollenaar, and Benjamin Dietschi.
i) BOG Award for Excellence in Community Service – J. Janzen’s memo to B. Forrest has also been circulated to the University community by email. Deadline for nominations is March 19th.
7. Other Business
a) BUFA Seniority List as of December 31, 2005 – Draft copies were circulated to the Executive for input. It will now be emailed to the membership.
b) Replacement for Tom Mitchell on the BU Alumni Association– Although past-practice suggests that this position be filled by a member of BUFA who is an alumnus, the Terms of Reference state that it be the BUFA President or his designate. The membership will be canvassed by email.
c) Description in CA re: Senior Practica – A. Bowman raised concern over the language of Articles 9.5(a)ix and 9.5(a) xiii. If there were indeed a contradiction, an interpretation would be required by JAC.
8. Next Meeting – Call of the Chair.
9. Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
_____________________________________ ________________________________
BUFA President BUFA Secretary
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Date Adopted