From: "Christopher Pavsek" <cpavsek@sfu.ca>
To: academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Sent: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 7:45:36 PM
Subject: re: Faculty Unionization
(I forgot to include the whole list in my original reply)...
Hello everyone (or what portion of everyone is on this list!)--Though John's experience might be different, in the history of Canadian academic unionization -- at least in roughly the last 40 years or so according to the CAUT -- something like 94 percent of all contracts settled between unionized faculty associations and administrations have been settled without a strike. I might be off by a percentage point or two; I do not have the facts with me. So it strikes me (pun intended, and I beg forgiveness) that the fear of a strike compelling us to act against our will is misplaced. Furthermore, let's dispel another misimpression that many people have: if we certify it does not mean that each member of SFUFA must respect the picket lines of other unions on campus. That decision is a matter of conscience that rests with the individual member, exactly as it did this past year when TSSU and CUPE staged their work actions.
Furthermore, there are unionized faculty associations that have waived the right to strike in their negotiations with the adminstrations, so that the decision to strike never even comes to a vote.
And finally, indeed it is the members who decide these things.
In debating these things, one can always resort to the language of "union bosses" and so on and thereby evoke an entire set of anti-union connotations, but I personally have a hard time envisioning Neil as such a boss (though correct, me, Neil, if I am wrong in this impression that I have of you) and I find Brian Green to be about as reasonable and respectful a person as I have ever met. And given that our current bylaws restrict the president of the union to a one-year term, it's hard to imagine a Hoffa-esque dynasty coming to power and using hardball tactics with our membership for years to come.
All the best
Chris
Christopher Pavsek
Associate Professor of Film and
Associate Director
SFU Contemporary Arts
Simon Fraser University
149 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4
Canada
778 782 4672
cpavsek@sfu.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Heaney" <heaney@sfu.ca>
To: academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Sent: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 8:13:35 PM
Subject: Faculty Unionization
I am not permitted to address you via sfufa-members (nor are most of your) and am obliged to use the corrupted replacement for faculty-forum.
According to Neil in his recent missive:
"The biggest concern expressed against unionization was that a union might force members to strike against their will. I pointed out that unionization does not necessarily mean strikes, and some unions, such as the UBC Faculty Association, continue to rely on arbitration. And in any event, it is always the members who decide."
From my experience that is not what happens. The union bosses urge a strike vote, telling the membership that it will strengthen their bargaining position, and that the vote will not be used to call a strike. Having secured the vote they call a strike. I was in a union on two different occasions when that happened.
In my experience union bosses have no more interest in letting its members decide than Stephen Harper has in letting his MPs decide.
John Heaney
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "SFUFA Office" <sfufaea@sfu.ca>
To: sfufa-members@sfu.ca
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 4:33:53 PM
Subject: Reminder: Should SFUFA Unionize: Coffee Klatch October 1
Hello SFUFA Members,
This is Neil Abramson again, president of SFUFA, inviting you to a second coffee klatch to discuss the question of whether SFUFA should unionize. This event will be held at the Renaissance Cafe in the northeast corner of the AQ, October 1 , 11am to 12:30pm. SFUFA will again buy the coffee and some baked goods.
There will be a couple of tables reserved, and a SFUFA sign. I'll wear my Tilley hat again so you'll know me.
Please find a summary of the discussions from the first coffee Klatch below; ********************************
After I invited everyone to the first coffee session Sep 9 , I got about 55 emails from people both passionately in favor, and opposed. There were even a few trying to make up their minds, like me. At the coffee itself, there were 4 strongly for, and 3 strongly against, and 3 not decided yet – a small turnout, perhaps, but not a bad one all things considered, and very successful when also we consider the email comments it generated.
The biggest concern expressed against unionization was that a union might force members to strike against their will. I pointed out that unionization does not necessarily mean strikes, and some unions, such as the UBC Faculty Association, continue to rely on arbitration. And in any event, it is always the members who decide.
On the pro side, people are very concerned we are falling behind other universities’ salaries. UBC faculty salaries are as much as 30% higher, and one colleague claimed the difference was 40% for business faculty. Some argued that our pay scales are so low that new faculty have to get large salary differentials or they won’t work here. So, new assistant profs might make as much as top-of- scale full profs, and more than most associate profs.
These are only a couple of the issues that were raised. But many did say they couldn't make the first coffee discussion so we hope these next opportunities will reach additional people. And we will be having a number of other events over the Fall to broaden the discussion.
I hope to see you at one of our upcoming events.
All the best,
Neil Abramson