Starting 12:01am December 18, 2021
Please see the attached guidelines and FAQ about Work-To-Rule Phase 1 starting 12:01am, December 18, 2021 (if no settlement or no agreement on extension of existing terms and conditions before then).
Work-To-Rule Phase 1 Guidelines
Work-To-Rule FAQ
Letter from OPSEU/SEFPO
Dear College Faculty:
As you know, the CEC has imposed employment conditions on college faculty following last week’s strike vote. Instead of returning to the bargaining table to hammer out the final details of a contract, they’ve taken a different approach: escalating tensions.
Despite the results of the strike vote, your bargaining team has no wish to compromise student learning. On the contrary. Their demands are designed to improve student success, not harm it. So instead of a strike, the team is recommending work-to-rule for all faculty: full-time, partial-load and probationary.
In a traditional strike situation, the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act forbids any employer reprisals on any members, including partial-load and probationary members, for participating in the work stoppage.
The same principle applies to work-to-rule, which is just another form of strike action.
Your employers would be reckless to think otherwise. It goes without saying, but please know that we will meet any employer reprisals, or threats of reprisals, against any and all college faculty members for participating in bargaining team-coordinated activities with the same vigour with which we would respond during a strike.
Please take this commitment to heart. Because no bully tactics stand a chance against the power of OPSEU/SEFPO.
Should any member – permanent, partial-load or probationary – experience any actions, or threats of action, that you consider punitive because of your participation in bargaining team-coordinated activities, contact your local president immediately.
Finally, always remember that solidarity is the keystone of any labour activity. When your bargaining team and local presidents call for action, don’t hesitate to step up to the plate. The employer will exploit any cracks in the membership. It’s time to close ranks and send a strong, unmistakable message: let’s get back to the table and bargain a new collective agreement – now.
Uploading Materials to D2L
We are happy to provide clarification around our direction regarding the use of College LMS (Learning Management System).
We note that LMS platforms are the simplest way for the Colleges to take possession of faculty materials without our consent, and that they are therefore the simplest means by which the Colleges may attempt to complete courses in the absence of striking faculty,
Therefore, Action #7 from the Phase 1 Guidelines does read: “Upload as little as possible for the upcoming semester on college LMS platforms.”
This is not to say that faculty should not provide necessary (or even unnecessary) information to students; it only to say that faculty should use College LMS platforms as little as possible for the distribution of that material. It is also consistent with the general principle that faculty should adhere strictly to the letter of regulations (in this case, your College’s technology use regulations) when working-to-rule.
At no time will a work-to-rule mean that we don’t give students materials or record classes, but it would be a good idea to distribute your course materials to students via “DropBox” or Google Drive (preferably with password-protection), and to make recordings available to your students via YouTube, Loom, Vidyard, or, Google Drive (again, password-protection is recommended).
We believe that these measures would maximize the effectiveness of our current work action (and therefore minimize the need for further escalation), and maximize faculty ownership over their own work product.
Virtual Background & Microsoft Teams
Now you can show your solidarity in meetings on Microsoft Teams. Attached below is a “how to” guide on how to change your background in Microsoft Teams and a link to download the CAAT-A Bargaining background.
Virtual Background Instructions – Teams
CAAT-A Bargaining Virtual Background