LCFA December 2019 Newsletter
Faculty News Letter
December 2019
Budget
ACIFA Report
ELT Meetings
Welcome Dave English
I hope your year to date has gone a smoothly as possible and the holiday season brings rest, reflection and relaxation.
It has been an interesting year in the faculty office. Quiet moments punctuated by frantic activity.
The biggest news and the greatest challenge facing the college this semester is the budget. Taking a substantial amount out of a carefully crafted yearly budget mid-cycle is challenging to say the least. The executive Leadership team has been very willing to share information with us as it was relayed to the institution. The budget impact plan submitted to government Dec 2nd states “we do not foresee any change to our academic programs or services within the current year.” “Lay-offs are not being considered at this time.” Reductions to cover the shortfall will be taken from a Visa surplus (International), a tuition surplus, IMP (infrastructure) spending, vacancies, capital and reduced discretionary spending. Any changes in the upcoming year will depend on the future funding model. I applaud the efforts of the management team in dealing with this difficult situation.
Following the ACIFA meeting in July minister Nicholaides agreed to meet with us immediately following the release of the budget but was pulled away and had to postpone our meeting.
October 26th Cheryl and I attended the president’s council meeting in Calgary. We discussed the future of faculty associations and ACIFA in light of the 2022 end to the phase in of Labor relations legislation in our sector. We talked about the job action defense fund and put forward a motion to request support from CAUT. Since the meeting the motion of support was passed by CAUT and ACIFA has arranged a significant line of credit to be available to member associations if needed.
November 1st we had a joint meeting with AUPE, the Students association and MLA Neudorf. Although we had many questions to ask, the conversation revolved around the student concerns, raising tuition, eliminating tax breaks, raising interest on student loans and eliminating the STEP program. Unfortunately MLA Neudorf did not have much to add having just received the budget information.
November 19th we participated in a conference call with MLA Philips. The call was about omnibus bill 22 but focused on changes to the pension plan. Changes to the pension plan have not been handled well from our perspective, some gains made in the area of governance have been lost. At this point however there is no change to your contributions or benefits.
We next met with Minister Nicholaides November 26th. Again, in a conference call, we determined the four topics to discuss.
1. Apprenticeship training concerns
2. Performance based funding
3. Consultation
4. Budget cuts being directed to address specific areas of concern
We discussed the changes to Apprenticeship and the implications to institutions, while dollars have been allocated to Skills, women in trades and career directions work, budgets have been impacted at the institution level. The minister indicated Skilled Trades training had to be as careful with their spending as other sectors. We discussed performance based funding, the minister shared his personal vision, a portion of the institutional funding will be provided as a yearly stable grant while the remainder will be at risk, dependent on achieving outcomes. Throughout our discussion we were encouraged to participate in consultation opportunities. As the meeting ended we presented the minister with our position on the move to Labor Relations, asking to maintain sole bargaining status as it is now. The minister took our information to research the implications.
We felt the meeting was productive, the minister often referred to the previous meeting, took personal notes on some of our comments and was willing to meet again in the New Year.
Your executive met with the Executive Leadership Team several times this semester. We discussed the phone systems, adding a link to security after hours. We discussed a designation policy in response to a labor relations recommendation that each institution should have a policy in place. We have had lengthy discussions around the course evaluations being done on canvas, and the intellectual property policy. Government has mandated a free speech policy based on the Chicago protocol which has been passed by the board but is waiting for government approval. We have discussed Intellectual Property and management of IP resources. In order to complete the requirements of the new Collective agreement we have established subcommittees to look into Distance Learning and the Professional Standards committee.
There are changes coming to the FA/SA awards. After discussing concerns around the awards we have decided to pause this year as we redevelop the awards process and criteria. If you have an interest in this area contact Mike in the FA office to volunteer.
With the ratification of the new collective agreement Kerry and his committee have completed their work and most chose not to run again. I would like to thank Kerry and the negotiating team for all their work. As the election date neared and the position of VP negotiations and welfare remained empty, Ryan Kaupp agreed to once again run to fill that important position. His departure left the role of VP admin open. We would like to welcome Dave English to the role of Interim Vice-president Administration. The executive council voted to appoint Dave to the position for the remainder of this term in order to look after the Professional Affairs portfolio and fill in the position on the FPDC vacated by Ryan Kaupp moving to VP Negotiations and Welfare. Although Dave only recently joined our executive council he has a wealth of experience at the college and we are all looking forward to working with him in his new role.
There will be a by-election planned in the New Year to consider vacancies on the executive council and the negotiating team. There has been some discussion during the by-laws revision of reducing the size of the negotiating team to help control the expenses of the association.
As a tough 2019 comes to a close, and we head into the challenges in 2020 I would like to thank the executive leadership team for the open communication and cooperation we have enjoyed this year.
On behalf of myself and the Faculty Executive council I wish you the happiest of holidays.
Kevin Wiber
President, Lethbridge College Faculty Association
Instructor Center for Trades
Automotive Service Technician / Heavy Equipment Technician
403-320-3202 ext. 3264 or 3219
3000 College Drive S., Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6
