Academic Governance Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Sharon McIvor
The Academic Governance Committee works to advance a broader understanding by members of locals of how they can become more active participants of the academic governance practices at their respective institutions. This committee seeks to assist Presidents’ Council & the FPSE in identifying and addressing matters related to the academic governance at member locals.
Bargaining Coordination Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Kennedy Bergstrom Alternate, Sharon McIvor
FPSE’s Bargaining Coordination Committee actively monitors negotiations across the post-secondary education system and assists in coordinating bargaining. The committee works with FPSE’s chief bargainers and reviews bargaining trends, undertakes research and identifies training needs. FPSE regularly offers labour relations training to member locals, at the committee level and for individual locals.
Contract Administration Review Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Dale Calder
FPSE’s Contract Administration Review Committee brings Chief Stewards together to coordinate and learn how best to protect collective agreement rights. Local stewards with time release handle most grievances in the initial stages. FPSE regularly offers labour relations training to the Contract Administration Review Committee, to member locals, and as part of the leadership development workshops at our Spring Conference and Annual General Meeting. Labour relations courses are part of our Labour Relations and Public Policy Advocacy Certificate.
Climate Action Standing Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Tom Willms
The FPSE Climate Action Standing Committee seeks to assist locals in pursuing initiatives to address the climate emergency. Climate impacts are inevitable and necessarily linked with issues of concern to unions and union members such as collective agreement language, education curriculum, health and safety of workers, and work to achieve environmental, racial, social, and economical justice for all. As such, the committee will coordinate and collaborate with other FPSE committees as needed early in policy development processes through a climate action lens. The committee will work together to advance the broader understanding of the inevitable impacts of climate change to increase perspectives and communication in interconnected.
Decolonization, Reconciliation & Indigenization Standing Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Sharon McIvor Alternate, Nedra McKay Alternate, Elaine Herbert
No actions of FPSE shall abrogate or supersede the traditional, collective, and hereditary rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous knowledge and resources are the property of the Nation from where they originated. We recognize that racism and sexism are embedded in all of our organizations.
As an FPSE Standing Committee, we acknowledge the collective and inherent rights of self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. We honour and respect the human dignity, cultural identity, and ways of knowing of Indigenous Peoples and communities in learning, teaching, and research environments. We walk together with all our relations for present and future generations. We aim to build a foundation of mutual respect and balance between different ways of knowing and understanding. Our aim is for people of every background and experience to create a positive future together.
FPSE and DRISC support the adoption of the following resolution by the Canadian Labour Congress:
- Whereas the revelations of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools have brought international attention to these crimes against Indigenous nations; and
- Whereas the Truth and Reconciliation Commission declared in its final report that the residential school system for Indian children was a “systematic, government- sponsored attempt to destroy Aboriginal cultures and languages and to assimilate Aboriginal peoples so that they no longer existed as distinct peoples”; and
- Whereas there have been repeated calls to action by Indigenous nations, scholars, and activists that crimes of genocide be investigated by independent international bodies of the United Nations, therefore,
- The Canadian Labour Congress will support the calls by Indigenous nations, scholars, and activists for an independent, internationally led criminal investigation by appropriate bodies of the United Nations into the Canadian state’s design, implementation, and administration of the Indian Residential School System and its ongoing destructive impact on Indigenous nations.
FPSE and DRISC stand in solidarity with the Vancouver and District Labour Council and the BC Federation of Labour to support the calls by Indigenous nations, scholars, and activists for an independent, internationally led criminal investigation by appropriate bodies of the United Nations into the Canadian state’s design, implementation, and administration of the Indian Residential School System and its ongoing destructive impact on Indigenous nations.
Disability Management & Rehabilitation Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Molly Toodlican
FPSE’s Disability Management & Rehabilitation Committee has a mandate to assist locals to identify and assess the disability and rehabilitation needs of members and to support the development of local Joint Rehabilitation Committees. The committee is working on a best practices manual to assist locals and individual members dealing with disability issues.
Human Rights & International Solidarity Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Nedra McKay
FPSE members care deeply about equality and social justice, not only in our working lives, but also in society at large. The Human Rights & International Solidarity Committee works on strategies for achieving equality in our institutions and in our communities. This committee also organizes an annual Speaker’s Tour, inviting leading human rights activists to our member locals to share their knowledge and experiences. FPSE representatives receive regular training and skill-building opportunities, and FPSE’s Annual General Meeting offers participants an annual opportunity to explore current rights issues. The committee also participates in administering the International Solidarity Fund.
Non-Regular Faculty Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Vacant
Improving working conditions for non-regular faculty and supporting initiatives to enhance job security for members is a top priority for FPSE. The Non-Regular Faculty Committee assists in developing and coordinating strategies to increase permanent employment and improve conditions for non-regular faculty in the system.
NVITEA Representative, Faculty: Lara-Lisa Condello
FPSE’s Pension Advisory Committee provides advice and information to the FPSE Presidents’ Council and locals on pension-related issues. Through this committee and at member locals, FPSE also provides education and training, pension, and retirement issues. More information and resources on pensions and retirement is available in Pensions and Retirement.
NVITEA Representative, Support Staff: Anna Brown
FPSE’s Pension Advisory Committee provides advice and information to the Council of Joint Organizations and Unions on pension-related issues. Through this committee and at member locals, The Pension Corporation also provides education and training, pension and retirement issues. More information and resources on pensions and retirement is available in Pensions and Retirement.
Private Sector Policy Committee:
NVITEA Representative, No member required
The FPSE Private Sector Policy Standing Committee works to promote better and more consistent representation of the interests of FPSE members who work for post-secondary institutions in the private sector. The responsibilities of the committee are intentionally broad and provide the committee with a mandate that allow it to address the issues faced by FPSE instructors in the private sector.
Women and Gender Equity Committee:
NVITEA Representative, Vacant
Although many gains in women’s rights have been made over the decades, the struggle for gender equality in the workplace and in society at large is far from over. The Women and Gender Equity Committee works on strategies for increasing diversity and achieving equality in our institutions and in our communities. FPSE representatives regularly receive training and skills-building workshops on human rights, diversity, and equity issues. Additionally, FPSE’s Annual General Meeting offers participants an annual opportunity to explore current rights issues.
Workplace Health, Safety & Environment Committee:
NVITEA Representative, David Legget
Every worker has the right to a workplace that is safe, healthy, and free of harassment. FPSE’s Workplace Health, Safety & Environment Committee (WHSEC) brings together representatives to learn about legal rights, to identify issues and trends in the post-secondary education sector, and to work with other labour organizations for improvements to workers’ compensation and occupational health and safety laws. More information about your rights can be found under Health and Safety.