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Re: SFUFA Spring Newsletter attached
Have we thought of asking the administration for their
opinion on the issue? Would it only be negative?
Somebody must be thinking about the best plan for the
entire university? I am still on the fence about the issue.
Karen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronda Arab" <ronda_arab@sfu.ca>
To: "Christopher Pavsek" <cpavsek@sfu.ca>
Cc: "sfufa forum" <academic-discussion@sfu.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 March, 2014 07:17:25
Subject: Re: SFUFA Spring Newsletter attached
I agree fully with Chris on this. I think we absolutely need to promote open discussion on all our affairs as a Faculty Association or as a union, if we become one. That starts now. The views of those who are unsure or do not support unionization are important, as whatever form of association we become we have to remain a democratic association, and preferably a well-informed democratic association. As a union, we will have a lot of decisions to make, and for those decisions to be made fairly, open discussion preceding votes is essential.
Ronda Arab
Ronda Arab
Director MATE
Associate Professor of English
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
ronda_arab@sfu.ca
778.782.8506 (Burnaby)
778.782.5164 (Surrey)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Pavsek" <cpavsek@sfu.ca>
To: "sfufa forum" <academic-discussion@sfu.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 March, 2014 01:43:18
Subject: Re: SFUFA Spring Newsletter attached
Hello everyone — As someone who has been very involved in organizing the certification drive, I cannot say that I agree with all of the sentiments Marjorie Griffin Cohen shared here this evening, as much as I respect the degree of her conviction on the matter.
I do very much agree with her on one point, though, namely that SFUFA did indeed decide to pursue a certification drive both after a very strong vote at the fall meeting and after a debate and decision by the executive. So I do believe it is utterly appropriate for SFUFA to be actively pursuing certification, as it is their mandate now after very strong displays of support by the membership.
But I also support SFUFA’s efforts to promote open discussion on the matter so that faculty can make a decision as they see fit. I also support having a faculty association — whether it becomes certified, as I sorely hope it does, or not — where open debate and discussion is fostered and encouraged. I think such debate can, in the end, only strengthen the association and thereby strengthen the faculty’s voice in matters of importance at the university and in higher education more broadly. I wish that sort of discussion could happen here on this forum without degenerating into derision and mockery and little flame wars, as so often seems to be the case.
I see nothing wrong with stating one’s own position on the issue.
My own position is that I support certification of SFUFA as a union and I hope that all of my colleagues across the campus join me in this and sign a union card so we can have a proper election.
If you are not convinced, if you are on the fence, or if you would like to know why I support certification, drop me a personal email ( cpavsek@sfu.ca ), ask me your questions and I’ll do my best to answer. If you like, I’ll send you a copy of the talk I gave last May in the debate at the very start of this entire process. I’ll try to update it before I share it, since my views have changed somewhat since then, though my conviction has not in the least.
Sincerely,
Christopher Pavsek
Christopher Pavsek
Associate Professor of Film and
Associate Director
School for the Contemporary Arts
Simon Fraser University
149 W. Hastings
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4
Canada
Phone: 778-782-4672
email: cpavsek@sfu.ca
On Mar 10, 2014, at 8:02 PM, JD Fleming < jfleming@sfu.ca > wrote:
Dear Professor Cohen,
Thanks for sharing your parody of the authoritarian mindset. Best wishes, JD Fleming
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marjorie Griffin Cohen" < mcohen@sfu.ca >
To: "SFUFA Office" < sfufaea@sfu.ca >, "sfufa forum" < academic-discussion@sfu.ca >
Cc: "marjorie cohen" < mcohen@sfu.ca >
Sent: Monday, 10 March, 2014 18:48:59
Subject: Re: SFUFA Spring Newsletter attached
Dear Faculty members:
The latest SFUFA Newsletter is surprising with its headline and focus: SFUFA Certification: Yes or No? As though it is still an issue to be debated within SFUFA, and including one negative point of view.
When I signed a union card I actually applied for membership in the Faculty Association. It specifically says “In applying for a membership I understand the Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University intends to apply to be certified as my exclusive bargaining agent and to represent me in collective bargaining.”
The important point is that SFUFA decided the matter through a vote of its members. No more debate within SFUFA is necessary.
SFUFA, as the website states, is a member-driven organization: “As a member-driven organization, SFUFA is ultimately governed by the will of its members as expressed at General Meetings.”
We do not need to promote the negative side either in the newsletter or on the website. I really do appreciate the President’s outspoken support (despite early skepticism), but the SFUFA executive needs to be much more visible in supporting its members on this issue. And, they should not give any more space anywhere to those against unionization.
Marjorie Griffin Cohen
Professor, Political Science/GSWS
Simon Fraser University
On Mar 10, 2014, at 11:23 AM, SFUFA Office < sfufaea@sfu.ca > wrote:
Melanie Lam
Executive Assistant
SFUFA - The Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive (AQ 2035) Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Fax : 778-782-3452 - Phone : 778-782-4676 - web : http://www.sfufa.ca
<Newsletter Spring 2.pdf>
--
J ames Dougal Fleming
Associate Professor
Department of English
Simon Fraser University
778-782-4713
Burnaby -- British Columbia -- Canada.
Upstairs was a room for travelers. ‘You know, I shall take it for the rest of my life,’ Vasili Ivanovich is reported to have said as soon as he had entered it.
-- Vladimir Naboko v , " Cloud, Castle, Lake'
--
Professor
Karen L. Kavanagh
Dept. of Physics,
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Dr.,
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Canada
Office: Rm 7078, TASC II, 4D Labs
http://www.sfu.ca/kavanaghlab.html
phone/fax; (778)-782-4244/3592