Policy Grievance Archive

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): Article 3, and any other articles that may apply. Nature of Dispute:  At least one member was hired and paid as a "guest director" creating a contractual position outside of the bargaining unit which violates Article 3 of the Collective Agreement. Result of Grievance: On July 5, 2021 the parties signed Minutes of Settlement to resolve the grievance. The current practice of hiring "Guest Directors" in the School of Dramatic…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): Articles 8, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and any other articles, legislation, or regulations that may apply. Nature of Dispute:  WUFA alleged that the University failed to allow the Joint Health and Safety Committee to function properly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. WUFA was concerned that the JHSC had no role in the University's pandemic response. Result of Grievance: On February 1, 2021 WUFA withdrew the grievance,…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): Articles 2, 5, 7 and any other Articles and Bylaws that may apply Nature of Dispute:  WUFA alledged that the University made significant and unilateral increases to some class enrollment numbers which included but was not limited to online course delivery. Result of Grievance: On January 15, 2021 WUFA withdrew the grievance, without prejudice, at Step 3 of the grievance process.  Although various Departmental policies exist, the University…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): Article 54 Nature of Dispute:  The University failed to take into consideration the previously earned sessional senority and/or preferred applicant status (PAS) during a sessional appointment process. The sessional seniority and/or PAS was incorrectly denied because the University alleged that previously earned sessional seniority and/or PAS is not retained once a Sessional Lecturer has retired. Result of Grievance: On October 23, 2020 Arbitrator…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): Article 54, and 5:07 Nature of Dispute:  On at least two occasions known to WUFA, the University has assigned courses to full-time members to be compensated with an overload stipend, without first posting the courses as required under Article 54:07 and 5:07 of the Collective Agreement. Result of Grievance: The related individual grievances were settled in the members' favour on October 8, 2020. The policy grievance was also settled without…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2014 - 2017 Article(s): 59 Nature of Dispute:  WUFA was aware of at least two (2) student complaint cases in which the accused members were not provided an opportunity to view or respond to the Deans’ reports before they were submitted to the Provost and President. In each case the Provost and/or President issued a letter of censure to the member based on the Dean’s report. Result of Grievance: On June 8, 2020 a settlement was reached between WUFA and the University,…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): 11 and 39 Nature of Dispute:  Failure to implement the grievance process in response to a grievance complaint concerning matters including but not limited to a toxic work environment. Result of Grievance: On February 27, 2020 a settlement was reached between WUFA and the University. The University shall respond to grievances initiated under Article 11:05(b) in accordance with Article 39 of the Collective Agreement. Grievance initiated: December…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): Article 55 and Bylaw 40 & 44 Nature of Dispute:  The University compelled Sessional Lecturers, who would like to sit on their respective AAU Councils, to attend those meetings for the full year (Sept 1- Aug 31), which is in violation of Sessional Lecturers' contractual obligations to work 8 months of the calendar year. Result of Grievance: WUFA withdrew the grievance, without prejudice, in January 2020. The Senate passed a vote to amend…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2014 - 2017 Article(s): Article 3, 6, 11, 55 and S Nature of Dispute:  It came to WUFA's attention that contrary to Article S, the University has awarded and paid higher than permitted salaries to some Sessional Lecturers hired under Article 55:12 of the Collective Agreement. Result of Grievance: The grievance was settled outside of arbitration. In the Preliminary Award of November 27, Arbitrator Swan made it clear that amending the Collective Agreement to increase…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): Article 3 Nature of Dispute:  The University contracted an outside institution, Boreal College, with the purpose to assign duties of teaching French language courses for Faculty of Law students. Result of Grievance: At Step 3 of the grievance process WUFA was advised that the Boreal partnership with UofW Law was halted. Furthermore, the Faculty of Law is working with the French program in the LLC Department to develop French courses specifically…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): Letter VIII Nature of Dispute:  In 2010, WUFA initiated a grievance alleging that the employer had improperly participated in the federal government's premium reduction program. Under the program, when an employer has relatively stable employment and few of its employees are likely to collect employment insurance, EI premiums are reimbursed to the employer, who then has an obligation to negotiate with the union so that reimbursed premiums…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): 1, 12 Nature of Dispute: WUFA was made aware of at least 17 AAS members who were appointed contrary to Article 12:21 of the Collective Agreement, which requires that AAS members be appointed to an AAU, in the Division of Athletics and Recreational Services, or in the Centre for Teaching and Learning. Further, there were at least 11 AAS Learning Specialist members who have been assigned teaching duties as part of their normal workload, but…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2017 - 2021 Article(s): 8, I Nature of Dispute: The University's implementation of PeopleSoft/UWinSite software offloads clerical tasks onto WUFA members that should be performed by secretarial staff. Further, the PeopleSoft/UWinSite system has been implemented in such a way as to effect change in travel policies in violation of the Collective Agreement and existing practice. Result of Grievance: The grievance was withdrawn by WUFA without prejudice at Step 3…

Collective Agreement referenced: 2014 - 2017 Article(s): 3, 4, 35 Nature of Dispute: The University entered into an unknown number of Agreements for Course Design without the Association’s knowledge in violation of WUFA’s role as the sole bargaining agent. Furthermore, some of these agreements appear to have been contracted out to individuals identified in the Agreement as “individual contractors”. Result of Grievance: The grievance was resolved at Step 3 of the grievance process. It was…

Collective Agreement Referenced: 2014-2017 Article(s): 55:11 Nature of Dispute:The University refused to initiate the process to fill vacancies in the Sessional Lecturer positions, as required under Article 55:11 of the Collective Agreement. Result of Grievance: The grievance was settled on August 31, 2017, prior to arbitration. The University agreed to fill the vacancies that existed in Article 55:11 as of August 31, 2017. There were (2) positions available to be filled. The parties agreed on a…

Collective Agreement Referenced: 2014-2017 Article(s): 41 Nature of Dispute: In July 2015 the search committee that recommended hiring for the position of Associate Dean, Law Library and Legal Research Services for the Faculty of Law, was constituted in violation of Article 41 of the Collective Agreement. Result of Grievance: A settlement was reached by the parties at Step 3 of the grievance process. It was confirmed that the University shall apply Article 41:04(b)of the Collective Agreement as…

Collective Agreement Referenced: 2014-2017 Article(s): 54 Nature of Dispute: The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences allegedly interfered in the application process for Preferred Applicant Status under Article 54:06 of the Collective Agreement by placing PAS applications on hold. Historically, PAS applications have been reviewed by the AAU Renewal, Promotion and Tenure Committee and then applicants are informed of the result by the AAU Head. This practice is consistent with…

Collective Agreement Referenced:  2014-2017 Article(s): 54 Nature of Dispute: The University failed to provide the Faculty Association with sessional instructor appointment letters, beginning from the Fall 2014 semester, as required under the new language in Article 54:04(a) of the 2014-2017 Collective Agreement. Result of Grievance:  The grievance was settled prior to arbitration.  All sessional appointment letters from Intersession/Summer 2015 and Fall 2015 will be sent to WUFA. Going forward,…

Collective Agreement Referenced:  2014-2017 Article(s): 5, 46 Nature of Dispute: WUFA argued that the University arbitrarily altered the terms and conditions of employment for members of at least two faculties through the introduction of a mandatory Faculty Vacation/Conference/Research Request Form. Result of Grievance: At Step 3 of the grievance process, the University withdrew the form that had been introduced in at least two faculties. Grievance initiated: July 30, 2015 Grievance resolved: November…

Collective Agreement Referenced:  2011-2014 Article(s): 59 Nature of Dispute: Unjustified discipline such as removal from class and/or exclusion from campus during investigation for misconduct. Result of Grievance: The policy grievance was initiated in response to a member being removed from the classroom in 2014.  Subsequently, individual grievances were filed on the member's behalf, and they were resolved.  WUFA subsequently withdrew the policy grievance. Grievance initiated: February 12,…