October 30, 2000
STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS, 12:00 NOON, OCTOBER 30, 2000
Negotiations since Wednesday October 25th have been intensive, culminating in all-night sessions over the weekend. Virtually all contract language issues have been resolved, largely in MUNFA's favor.
Wide differences remain, however, with respect to workload and financial issues.
The strike deadline of noon on October 30th has been set back 20 hours, to allow time to analyze and respond to the administration's's latest salary proposal, received on the morning of October 30th, which shows some limited movement toward MUNFA's current position.
WORKLOAD:
Six-course norms -- The administration continues to resist MUNFA's proposals to reduce norms from 6 courses to 5 in units such as Grenfell College and Education, where 6 course norms are still the case.
Remission for above-norm scholarly activity -- The administration continues to demand the removal from the Collective Agreement of the provision entitling faculty to a one course teaching remission for above-norm scholarly activity; they wish such remissions to be solely at the discretion of the Head.
Course equivalencies -- The administration continues to seek the removal from the Collective Agreement of collegial mechanisms for determining the equivalence of non-standard teaching to 3-hour lecture courses, a provision which has allowed faculty to protect time for honors and graduate student supervision.
Distance education - the administration continues to push for changes which would allow them to assign distance education as part of normal load.
Banked time - The administration continues to press for the removal of language that allows the accumulation of banked time into a semester for research activity.
FINANCIAL ISSUES:
Salary proposals
MUNFA's current position on salary is a revision of our original proposal, designed to respond to the administration's salary proposal previously circulated to all MUNFA members. It takes the following form:
September 1 1999:
April 1 2000: September 1 2000:
April 1 2001: September 1 2001: April 1 2002: The proposed salary changes: MUNFA's proposal is intended to improve on the administration offer by increasing the salaries of
all members sooner. Like the administration proposal it acknowledges the significance of obtaining
the usual terminal qualification in one's discipline, with a smaller differential than that proposed by
the administration, offset by bringing the increase forward in time. As of the morning of Monday October 30th, the administration has shifted very slightly from their
original salary proposal, by moving their proposed 4 step increase for those with a doctorate from
September 1 2001 to 31 March 2001, a minimal departure from their original position. The administration remains resistant to MUNFA's attempts to bring compensation further forward
in time. The administration continues to refuse to move from its position that there must be a 4 step
difference between those with the doctorate and those without, including Librarians and other
colleagues in disciplines for which the doctorate is not the usual terminal degree. Other salary issues Protection of market differentials - We have confirmed that the administration's proposed salary
increases relate explicitly to basic annual salary. In contrast in MUNFA's current position, existing
market differentials would be protected. Caps - MUNFA's current position would raise caps 6 steps, the administration's would raise caps
by 4 steps (two for senior Librarian ranks). Per-course compensation and pay of sessionals - MUNFA wants compensation raised by at least $750
per course; the administration current position is that per-course stipends will be $3750, an increase
of only $231. Distance education remuneration -- The administration seeks a sliding scale that would considerably
lower the total compensation for teaching distance education classes with large enrollments, even
though, in contrast to the case for standard lecture courses, the work involved in such courses grows
rather than shrinks with increasing enrollment. Other financial issues Retirement and early retirement - MUNFA has moved from its original early retirement proposals,
on which, it was apparent, progress would be impossible. Instead, we now propose severance pay
and payment for accumulated vacation on retirement or resignation. The administration refuses both. Pension reform - MUNFA has moved from its original proposal for pension reform, it having become
apparent that negotiating this item would be impossible in the available time. Some progress may be
possible in this area, on protection of pension surplus and towards assembling the information which
would make reform possible in the future. Insured benefits - the administration continues to insist on a cap on its costs for insured benefits, a
significant clawback the impact of which will increase over time. MUNFA Negotiating Committee: All issues of Negotiating News are accessible at http://www.mun.ca/munfa/negnews.html
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