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Every collective agreement must establish joint union-management consultation committees. The purpose of the joint consultation committees is to provide unions and employers with an opportunity to meet regularly to talk about workplace issues. We encourage activists at NVIT to work with the NVITEA Executive Team and participate on one of our joint consultation committees. The real effectiveness of our joint consultation committees starts with member involvement. NVIT Management will set the meetings date, time, and location at least once per year.
Local NVITEA Committees
In addition to NVITEA joint consultation committees, the FPSE standing committees connect the dots between our workplaces, our unions, and our communities. FPSE standing committees provide members a place to share information, and experience and deliver insights across all our member associations. Through these standing committees, FPSE members help set our priorities, develop policy, and contribute to research and campaigns. The standing committees meet in Vancouver at least twice a year. Standing committee members are also able to participate in our Spring Leadership Conference held every February. This event provides an opportunity for members to hear about some of the critical issues in post-secondary education and labour relations.
FPSE Standing Committees
Academic Governance Committee:
NVITEA Representative,
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.
Occupational Health and Safety Committee:
NVITEA Representatives:
From ARTICLE 26.4
26.4.1 The Institute shall maintain an Occupational Health and Safety Committee in keeping with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations of the Worker’s Compensation Board and ensure such committees carry out all the duties and responsibilities in accordance with the regulations.
26.4.2 The Occupational Health and Safety Committee shall assist in creating a safe place of work, shall recommend actions that will improve the effectiveness of the occupational health and safety program, and shall promote compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
26.4.3 The Employer agrees to provide employees information and orientation to health and safety measures, as required by applicable legislation.
Joint Union-Management Committee:
NVITEA Representatives, Dale Calder – Kennedy Bergstrom
From ARTICLE 10
10.1 The Union and the Employer recognize the mutual value of ongoing joint discussions through a Union-Management Committee on matters pertaining to working conditions.
10.2 Composition
10.2.1 The Committee shall be composed of (2) representatives of the Employer and two (2) representatives of the Union.
If possible, at least one (1) of the representatives of the Union and one (1) representative of the Employer will have been members of their respective negotiating committees.
10.2.2 Additional representatives or resource people may attend the meetings from time to time in order to provide information and/or assistance to the Committee.
The Committee shall be chaired on a rotational basis with a member of the Employer’s delegation chairing on even numbered years and a member of the Union’s delegation chairing on odd numbered years. The chair will be responsible for the preparation and circulation of the agenda, minute of the meetings, and the arrangement of the meeting rooms.
10.2.3 The Committee shall meet at least once per academic year, or at the request of either party to discuss and make recommendations to their respective principals on, but not limited to such matters as:
- Changes to employee benefits,
- Position classifications,
- Services,
- Labour-management relations,
- Issues with application or interpretation of parts of this Agreement,
- Matters of employer-employee relations arising out of this Agreement,
- Recommended amendments or additions to this Agreement whether or not there is an unresolved grievance or collective bargaining is underway,
- Operational priorities,
- Program performance and student enrollment, matters referred to the committee pursuant to the grievance procedure, and
- Policy matters under consideration by the Employer.
10.2.4 The Committee shall not have the authority to bind either party to this Agreement, or any agreement, but it may make recommendations to the parties’ principals.
Joint Professional Development Committee:
NVITEA Representatives, Nedra McKay – Kathie Horner – Jessica Stepp
From ARTICLE 11.4
11.4.1 The administration and allocation of the professional development fund is the responsibility of the Joint Professional Development Committee (JPDC). The JPDC shall determine the criteria and procedures for fund allocation.
11.4.2 The JPDC shall consist of three (3) members appointed by the Employer, and three (3) members appointed by and from the Union, one of which shall be a support staff member.
11.4.3 Professional development funds for continuing employees shall normally not exceed $2,000 per person per fiscal year. Group PD shall not normally exceed $10,000.
11.4.4 Upon approval by the Joint Professional Development Committee, any professional development funds remaining as of March 31st may be used to provide indemnity to eligible employees. Eligible employees are those who have requested professional development funds in the current fiscal year and who have spent more than the maximum amount allocated to them prior to March 31st. Eligible employees will be required to provide receipts and will be paid equitably from any remaining funds to a maximum amount of $500.00 each.
11.4.5 The JPDC will produce a year end report on the use of professional development activity and the use of funds. The purpose of this report, which shall include costs, shall be to monitor professional development efficiency. This report will be made available to the President of NVIT and to the Union.
11.4.6 Upon request, the Employer shall provide to the Union an accounting for all professional development expenditures.
Support Staff Issues Committee:
NVITEA Representatives, All Support Staff
This committee is for all support staff. Various meetings throughout the year will be set asking support staff to bring up any issues they may have in a safe supportive meeting meant only for support staff. The full Executive Team (including the faculty positions) may attend these meetings to provide additional support and clarification.
Bargaining Issues Committee:
NVITEA Representatives, Kennedy Bergstrom – Nedra McKay
This committee was developed for NVITEA members who wish participate in the bargaining discussions. Any member can volunteer. The committee meets one per year in non-bargaining years and can be more frequent during a bargaining year. Members will discuss solutions to the issues that both faculty and support staff bring forward. Members may be asked to attend and participate in the bargaining sessions with management during the bargaining years. Members are asked to renew their participation each year.
Joint Working Group to Indigenize the Collective Agreement and NVIT:
NVITEA Representatives, Sharon McIvor – Elaine Herbert – Stacy Michel
From LOU #4
Whereas the parties to this collective agreement:
- Agree on the value and benefit of Indigenizing this collective agreement and, NVIT; and
- Recognize the mutual value of ongoing joint discussions in a culturally safe environment through an Indigenization focussed committee; and,
- Agree on the need to identify and explore ongoing opportunities to advance Indigenization at NVIT; and
- Agree to establish a Joint Working Group to begin the work of Indigenizing this collective agreement and NVIT.
PURPOSE
Develop recommendations to advance Indigenization of this Collective Agreement and at NVIT.
MANDATE
In recognition that the participants on the joint committee will bring with them their own unique perspective, experience and expertise, the Parties anticipate that the Joint Working Group will establish its own Terms of Reference.
COMPOSITION
The intention of the Parties is to ensure that the joint committee is open, inclusive and transparent welcoming from Elders, employees, learners, board members, local chiefs and members of the broader NVIT community.
The co-chairs of the current NVIT Indigenization Committee will be invited to actively participate in the Joint Working Group.
Notwithstanding the above, the core of the Joint Committee shall comprise three (3) representatives appointed by the Employer and three (3) representatives appointed by the Union. Each party will strive to include representatives from the Merritt and Burnaby campuses. Ideally, a minimum of here (3) of the representatives of the Union and a minimum of three (3) representatives of the Employer will have been members of their respective 2023 negotiating committees.
The committee will be Employer-Union co-chaired with the Union co-chair chosen by the Union representatives and the Employer co-chair chosen by the Employer representatives.
MEETINGS
The Joint Working Group will meet at its discretion.
To allow for broad participation, meetings will be held during work hours.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations must be submitted to the Parties – ie. Employer and Union, no later than November 30, 2023.
With the understanding that the Indigenization of the collective agreement is in the best interests of both Parties, recommendations from the Joint Working Group accepted by both Parties will be included in the Employer’s and Union’s set of bargaining proposals for the renewal of the 2022-2025 collective agreement.
The Joint Working Group does not have the authority to bind the Employer or Union to any recommendations.
PRACTICAL INITIATIVES
The Parties agree that to the extent possible, an Indigenization lens will be applied to their interactions.
E.2) Provincial FPSE Standing Committees:
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
Alternates, Nedra McKay and 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 practice 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.
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