Based on a head count of faculty at UFV, 72.4% are precariously employed contract faculty (1). This is an outrageous and unacceptable percentage. Our Collective Agreement says that no more than 30% of budgeted sections can be taught by contract faculty. This percentage is already high in relation to other like institutions who are at 20-25%. And UFV’s actual number is more than 38% (2).
Contract faculty are meant to fill temporary vacancy gaps. They are not meant to be fully employed long term faculty members paid at half price, and living without any job security, health benefits, long or short-term disability insurance. If a sessional colleague gets sick and needs treatment, if they are in a car accident and suffer injuries, if they need to care for a child or elder and cannot work for a period of time, they lose their jobs and no longer receive pay. This is labour exploitation. It has been happening at an increasing rate across the country for decades, and UFV is no exception. We are heading into a bargaining year. Do we want this for our sessional and LTA colleagues who teach the same courses as B faculty, but are paid half the wages. Do we want this for our students who don’t have the same accessibly to their contract instructors? Do we want this for our B faculty who are forced to shoulder more of the department and service work? Do we want labour exploitation at our work place of higher learning where we teach our students about social justice?
The answer is increased pay, health benefits and job security. Regularization is a path to these things. It existed at UFV in the early 2000’s, but is no longer in our Collective Agreement. We believe it’s time to bargain it back. The majority of FPSE (Federation of Post-Secondary Educators) institutions, of which UFV is a part, have paths to regularization or other forms of job security. It is time we joined that majority again and do right by our contract faculty who serve our students and UFV alongside their B faculty colleagues year after year.
Please reach out to the FSA if you’d like to get involved or share a story or opinion.
In solidarity,
Toni Latour
FSA Non-Reg Executive Member
- Human Resources Database, 2020-21 fiscal year
- Based on an analysis of the timetables published online for Summer 2020, Fall 2020, and Winter 2021. Does not include courses categorized as independent study or practicum, or those offered through Continuing Education.