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I think the wording is meant to be very precise here:
SFU: you may, and while we can't make you we'd secretly appreciate it if you did. We can't say that out loud, so we'll send little nudge-nudge reminders instead.
From: Steve DiPaola <sdipaola@sfu.ca>
Sent: October 15, 2023 10:50:21 PM To: Brian Green; academic-discussion@sfu.ca Subject: Brain Green: Can you clarify the conflicting instructions between your SFUFA email and the VPA's FAQ on teaching
Brian, you wrote below (and this has been our instructions in many emails):
"
SFUFA members are
reminded that they should not perform work
that would be otherwise performed by a TSSU member,
or re-organize work so as to bypass the
impact of job action. If requested to do so by the University, please let us know.
"
But in the FAQ to
instructors listed in the email, from: Courtney Brown, EA to Vice-Provost Learning & Teaching <avpltsec@sfu.ca>
FAQ: https://www.sfu.ca/dashboard/faculty-staff/bargaining/frequently-asked-questions.html#instructors
We see different instructions to faculty -- which to me conflict with your above SFUFA instructions:
From that
FAQ:
MAY FACULTY CHOOSE TO DO TUTORIALS/LABS/MARKING/OTHER WORK IN LIEU OF THE TAS?
Yes, faculty may choose
to run tutorials/labs and do marking as long as the faculty members were appointed prior to September 15, 2022. Faculty cannot be required to do
any struck work. Choosing to do struck work and choosing to cross a picket line are two separate decisions.
MAY FACULTY USE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED VIDEOS OR OTHER MATERIALS TO SUPPORT CANCELLED LABS/TUTORIALS DUE TO THE STRIKE?
Yes, faculty may use
previously recorded videos or other materials to support cancelled labs/tutorials. If an instructor records video or creates other material for
use in place of a class that has been cancelled due to a picket line, this is considered crossing a picket line.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE BASIS OF ASSESSMENT OR THE ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE FOR MY CLASS AFTER THE START OF THE TERM DUE TO THE STRIKE?
Yes, for example, you can alter
the basis of assessment for your class, such as changing an exam to contain more multiple-choice questions
and fewer written problems than you had originally planned, making changes to the
material covered in the assessment, or incorporating alternate assignments or other forms of assessment. You
are also able to make changes to the assessment schedule (e.g. changing an assignment due date or changing
the date of an in-class exam).
-----
All these instructions in this email and FAQ web page called "Subject: FAQs for Instructors" I believe
from the Vice-Provost Learning & Teaching, in my reading of it, conflict with our prior and recent instructions from you that states "SFUFA members 1) should not perform work that would be otherwise performed by a TSSU member, or 2) re-organize work so as
to bypass the impact of job action."
The FAQ seems to claim we can do both those things.
How can we faculty understand then what to do? Should we stick with the SFUFA policy? If so, can you communicate with SFU admin about these conflicts in instructions to faculty that we are getting in the FAQ (and
ask to have them changed or removed). Or give us guidance on how to proceed?
Thanks, Steve
- Steve DiPaola, PhD - -
- Prof: Sch of Interactive Arts & Technology (SIAT); - Fellow: Royal Society of Canada (College)
- - Simon Fraser University - -
research site: ivizlab.sfu.ca
art work site: www.dipaola.org/art
- -
From: Brian
Green <brian_green@sfu.ca>
Sent: October 15, 2023 4:12 PM To: sfufa-members Subject: [SFUFA] TSSU Strike Continues Dear
SFUFA Members:
The
Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) has updated its planned picket lines for next week. We will be getting a more detailed update regarding this weekend's mediation, but indications are it was not successful in resolving the key issues, and strike action will
continue.
Members
should expect pickets at the Burnaby campus all week, from Monday, October 16th through Friday, October 20th. All of Burnaby campus is picketed with the exception of the residences and the childcare centre.
Other
campuses may also be picketed on select days, but specifics have not yet been announced.
The withdrawal
of all teaching work performed by TSSU members continues, regardless of where pickets may be.
The
TSSU is asking for faculty support, and SFUFA is respecting the picket line.
SFUFA
Members are eligible for strike pay; further details will be sent out early next week.
Respect
for the picket line includes avoiding any of the following:
With
regard to committee work, the TSSU has indicated that committee meetings related to graduate student progress should be delayed if possible, but may be moved online if they are necessary for student progress. More general administrative meetings are intended
to be captured by the picket line, and moving these to avoid the impact of the picket would be deemed a violation of the picket.
SFUFA
members are reminded that they should not perform work that would be otherwise performed by a TSSU member, or re-organize work so as to bypass the impact of job action. If requested to do so by the University, please let us know.
Please
note, also, that TSSU policy asks its members NOT to report their intentions regarding picket lines; please do not ask TSSU members whether they intend to work, but rather presume they will not be working. Research Assistants and many research support workers
are also TSSU members and cannot cross a picket line. Faculty members should expect that research work will not be performed by these employees if pickets are up.
The
TSSU's overtime ban also continues to be in effect.
For
the duration of job action impacting the Burnaby campus, the SFUFA Office will be closed as we respect the TSSU picket line. No Association business will be conducted in any affected location.
Strikes
can at times cause inconvenience and even friction. We would encourage you to remember that the TSSU is comprised of people who are both colleagues and students of faculty, and their choice to take job action arises from their own experiences with the University
administration.
The
Association is itself in bargaining right now, and works closely with other campus labour groups on areas of mutual interest, and we will be organizationally respecting any and all picket action.
As
a matter of conscience and also under SFU policy GP05, members have the right to refuse to cross picket lines. Similarly, SFUFA Members cannot be required to modify their courses in order to minimize or mitigate the effect of job action. A guide to faculty
rights and responsibilities in the event of job action is available on the SFUFA website at:
We
would encourage you familiarize yourself with it, and please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions.
Please
note: the University may deduct salary for work missed as the result of a job action. If so, they may deduct 1/10th of bi-weekly salary for each day missed, but generally deduct only for those specific days that classes or required on-campus duties are affected.
For those members who have more regularly-scheduled hours, a picket may impact the workplace for only a portion of a day. In these situations, deductions are based on the hours missed. Please see the link above for further details.
Strike
Pay may be available to SFUFA members after four days of wage loss resulting from one's respect for a picket line. Paid at $88 per day with eligibility beginning as of the fourth day of salary loss, the benefit is not intended to replace one's salary but to
alleviate financial hardship and assist members whose pay is docked as a result of their refusal to cross a picket line.
For
TSSU strike updates, members may see:
Information
from the TSSU at https://bargaining.tssu.ca/
SFU's
labour update page https://www.sfu.ca/dashboard/faculty-staff/bargaining/updates/tssu.html
We
will continue to update you with developments as they become available.
- Steve DiPaola, PhD - -
- Prof: Sch of Interactive Arts & Technology (SIAT);
- Fellow: Royal Society of Canada (College)
- - Simon Fraser University - -
research site: ivizlab.sfu.ca
art work site: www.dipaola.org/art
- -
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