Latest FPSE News & President's Comments
COCAL IX Conference: building unity across many borders
“Contingent academic faculty across North America have a common goal: to build strength through a shared strategy of organizing and bargaining,” said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators and one of the keynote presenters at this year’s International Conference of the Coalition of Contingent Academic Labour (COCAL). The event was held last week in Quebec City and brought together faculty representatives from Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Democracy in the cross-hairs…again
Voters in BC have had quite a year. Following the May 2009 provincial election, they were stunned to find out that an issue the BC Liberals had promised not to enact-the harmonizing of our provincial sales tax with the federal Goods and Services Tax-was suddenly a done deal. The announced about-face was made at a July news conference with the Premier and his Finance Minister. No doubt, both men hoped that the controversial move would soon lose political traction as people prepared for summer.
Canada’s Census Debate: The Long and Short of It
BC’s trades training system: missing in action
Election results confirm new FPSE Executive
The following positions and candidates were acclaimed by the Convention:
1. President, Cindy Oliver
2. Secretary-Treasurer, George Davison
3. First Vice-President, Nanci Lucas
Convention unity sends strong message to employers and governments
There is a lot of momentum created when the representatives of 10,000 post-secondary educators in BC unite around a single plan for action in their sector. That's what happened last week as delegates at FPSE's 30th Annual Convention unanimously supported the Convention Action Plan, a plan that will target the organization's resources, staff and leadership on five key priorities. Those priorities included:
Post-secondary educators mobilize for the year ahead
Bargaining, organizing and holding governments accountable are major items at FPSE’s 30th Annual Convention
Bargaining begins for post-secondary educators
Working conditions have direct relation to classroom conditions.
A key to improving the learning environment for post-secondary students in BC will be improving working conditions for educators, say the people who work in BC's post-secondary institutions.
Feeling stressed? You’re not alone
Workplace stress comes in many forms, has many effects and, ultimately, can prove to be damaging not just for the worker who experiences the stress, but also the workplace where the stress is generated. It was with that in mind the our Federation, in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), developed a survey instrument to measure and assess the kind of stress that post-secondary educators are experiencing here in BC.
Make a difference on April 10th
Community groups, arts and culture organizations, unions, seniors and students have banned together to press the provincial government to re-think its budget priorities. The group is called the Coalition to Build a Better BC. This Saturday, April 10th, they have organized a rally for 12:00 noon at the Vancouver Art Gallery.