Librarians & Archivists: Bargaining Bulletin Vol. 6, No. 4

UWOFA and the Employer had their first bargaining meeting on May 15, 2023. Chief Negotiator Johanna Weststar opened the meeting by highlighting key issues and goals for this round of bargaining – complement, workload, recognition of professionalisation, and compensation. The Employer has signalled an intention to do what they reasonably can to reflect post Bill-124 settlements emerging in the sector, while also alluding to concerns about fiscal prudence, which are not unfamiliar.

Some housekeeping items remain to be concluded, but we expect to be done with them by the end of the week. We shared an overview of all our proposals and presented the ones listed below. The Employer presented three non-monetary proposals for Annual Report and Review (ARR), Appointments, and Library Directors & Heads. 

UWOFA is proposing to open 15 articles and 4 Letters of Understanding (LOUs). Many proposals seek to achieve parity with the gains of the recently negotiated Faculty Collective Agreement. Additionally the UWOFA negotiating team is proposing 4 new LOUs, addressing support for members with disabilities, establishing an appropriate ratio of Librarians & Archivists to students, ensuring recognition and protection of professional qualifications, and providing a pathway to promotion for members grandparented at Assistant with Continuing status. 

UWOFA presented proposals in full for 5 articles and 2 LOUs:

Report and Review

• Proposes to increase efficiencies in Report and Review by moving to biennial reporting and ensuring it serves its purpose
• Introduces new requirements for professional development meetings separate from performance evaluation and training for supervisors
• Separates Report and Review from the process for Promotion and Continuing Appointment  

Income Security 

• Introduces caregiving leaves 

Pregnancy, Parental and Adoption Leave 

• Proposes to remove eligibility conditions relating to length of employment and to remove the punitive penalty Members are currently subjected to should they terminate their employment within 6 months of returning from leave

Promotion and Continuing Appointment

• Proposes an annual meeting with the Chief Librarian or Dean for Members on a Probationary Appointment
• Establishes processes to encourage Members to go up for promotion

Working Conditions 

• Clarifies that the Employer will provide a computer and upgrades as required for Members to fulfill their Responsibilities

LOU: Members with Disabilities Joint Working Group (JWG)

• Expands the mandate of the JWG established through faculty bargaining to include Librarians and Archivists 

LOU: Member Offices  

• Ensures that Members who are relocated on campus are provided with offices in their new space 

We will continue to post articles as we open them in a Bargaining Unit Member-only space. Members can also find details of the Employer’s proposals and signed-off items from Housekeeping there. UWOFA-LA Members should contact a member of the Collective Bargaining Committee (CBC – see below) to get access to this folder:

• Samuel Cassady
• Kristin Hoffmann
• Denise Horoky
• Erin Johnson
• Liz Mantz
• Brian McMillan
• Katya Pereyaslavska
• Stephen Spong
• Leslie Thomas
• Courtney Waugh
• Johanna Weststar
  

Bargaining continues this week with meetings scheduled on May 16 in the afternoon and again on Friday May 19. You can look forward to a new update shortly after each session.