UVic PEA Executive Meeting

22 January 1997

Clearihue, Room D261

12 noon - 1:30 PM


Present: Ann Nightingale (Chair), Mary O'Rourke, Jane Kovach, Tom Gore, Dick Chappell,

Rosalie Phillips

1. Approval of Agenda

Agenda approved as circulated with two items added.

2. Approval of Minutes of December 11 and January 8.

MOTION: (Gore/Phillips) "That the minutes of the December 11 be approved with revisions.". CARRIED
MOTION: (Chappell/Kovach) " That the minutes of Jan 8 be approved with revisions". CARRIED.

3. Chairs Remarks - Nightingale

No remarks

4. Business Arising from the Minutes

4.1 Meeting with Personnel (budget clawback) - Nightingale
Nightingale reports that she, Doyle and Darling attended a meeting with CUPE 951 representatives, Personnel and Rowlatt. Rowlatt informed that clawback for 1996-97 is one half of one percent of UVic budget and will be accommodated - will not be passed on to departments. 1997-98 not set but reduction anticipated and individual departments, units will be asked to develop plan to deal with cuts.
4.2 UVicPEA Budget - Chappell
Chappell circulates draft budget for discussion. Gore suggests that we itemize budget. Nightingale suggests that we re-examine the amount and include formula options. Nightingale adds that as PEA handles routine expenses, UVic PEA could request a discretionary fund for items for which we did not want to seek PEA approval, or for which we were rejected by PEA (e.g. charitable donations or funding for special events). Nightingale proposes we submit a policy change which returns 2% of member dues annually to the chapter as a discretionary fund. Due to the variation in the size of chapters, Nightingale recommends a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $5,000.
ACTION: Chappell will draft a proposal for next meeting and, if approved, will take to PEA
4.3 Membership Survey - Nightingale
Nightingale circulates document for review and discussion and adds that it will be circulated to all UVicPEA members along with letter explaining how information would be used. Kovach suggest adding a section for "feedback" to inform UVicPEA of issues critical to members. Discussion about how to use material to raise profile
ACTION: Nightingale will revise and bring to next meeting along with letter of introduction.
4.4 Committee Matrix - O'Rourke
O'Rourke circulates second draft and requests changes be send before next meeting.
4.5 Search Committees - Nightingale
Deferred to next meeting - Darling will report (BOG policies) results of letter submitted by Teo.

5. New Business

5.1 A/U Committee- Gore
(i) Gore, Nightingale Danesin and Doyle represented the PEA at the first meeting. UVic was represented by Per Van der Leeden, Jim Griffith, Phil Reusing and Beth Watton with Lois Jones to speak on ProD and Term Conversions. Gore adds that Chair (Van der Leeden) is leaving; no new chair appointed and UVicPEA asked to nominate member (on PEA Executive) to chair next meeting; no meeting date set.
(ii) ProD funds (ARTICLE 20.12) - A ProD expense account policy has been drafted by UVic and funds will be available in late Feb. 1997. Gore adds that informal agreement to policy was given by the A/U committee and suggests that there may be a need for UVicPEA to approve some matters formally. Human Resources will send a memorandum to each professional staff member describing the policy, procedures and funds available in the individual's account.
(iii) Conversion of Term Employees to Continuing -Gore reports that 12 individuals who held term appointments for three (3) years have been converted to Continuing status by UVic. There was debate about whether the contract language referred to the conversion individuals as opposed to the conversion of positions. . The individuals approved as Continuing will be notified by Lois Jones. Each side of the A/U will present it's interpretation of the term appointment conversion (Article 5.03) at the next A/C meeting for further discussion. Gore adds that there was discussion about performance review, (ARTICLE 6.05). Human Resources indicated that the letter sent by former PEA President, Larry Devlin about the salary survey was not acknowledged because the survey had been discarded due to problems with the research process and results.
(iv) Stand-by issue - Gore reports that the issue is being discussed by Occupational Health and Safety staff and that they will try to resolve it within their shop. Issue will not be reviewed by UVic PEA at this time
ACTION: Phillips will send email to local reps requesting items to take to next A/U committee.
(v) PSA funds update - Gore sent email to PSA members suggesting that the $12,000 in PSA funds should be used for the benefit of A&AP staff and has received support form many members. Gore suggests that PSA could continue in order to distribute the funds rather than disband.
5.2 SCON (Standing Committee On Nominations)
(i) Committee mandate and procedure, meetings deferred to next meeting.
(ii) New Committees - Nightingale
Nightingale states that we need to establish new committees, as required by the collective agreement as follows:
  • Job Evaluation Committee - Darling, Miers and Doyle have agreed to serve.
  • Ergonomics Committee- representatives to work with Occupational Health Safety to develop program and deal with issues. This will not be a formal committee, but will work with OH on an as hoc basis.
  • Performance Review Committee - require two (2) people to help develop proposal for annual review and performance reviews.
  • Salary Deferral Plan Committee - PEA needs to appoint 1-2 people to work with UVic to develop plan. Bob Worth has already done work in area.
(iii) Traffic and Security Committee - Kovach
Kovach reports that PEA member (Milner) is retiring. Agreed that UVicPEA send letter suggesting that a new PEA member join the committee.
ACTION: Kovach will write to VP re: PEA member replacement.
(iv) Advisor to the VPAC on Faculty Women's Issues (FWI)
Darling liaising with advisor of VPAC on FWI and has sent report (email) to UVicPEA Exec. Nightingale suggests we read email and send ideas to Darling.
(v) Local Reps - issues around appointment or election, number, meeting schedule deferred to next meeting.
ACTION: Phillips to poll Local Reps. for items re: interpretation of the contract for taking to the A/U Committee.
5.3 Advisor to the UPAC on Faculty Women's Issues deferred to next meeting.
5.4 PSA funds update - Gore
Gore sent email to PSA members suggesting that the $12,000 in PSA funds should be used for the benefit of A&AP STAFF and has received support from many members. Gore suggests that PSA could continue in order to distribute funds rather than disband.
5.5 Report from PEA Executive Meeting (Vancouver) - Gore
Gore reports he attended Monday meeting. The PEA has $220,000 in cash to be invested, $4,108,000 in investment portfolio and 2,260 members (311 at UVic out of 376 eligible). He reports that a member's written request for the PEA to provide ProD funding was not accepted because it was felt PEA
funding of ProD would undercut the employer's responsibilities and exhaust available funds rapidly. Another proposal that the PEA become a kind of employment agency for displaced government professionals was also rejected because it was felt there were other agencies doing that sort of work. Chapter reports were presented by several PEA member units.

MOTION: (Gore/Chappell) "To adjourn" CARRIED

Next Meeting:

Wednesday, February 5
12 noon to 1:30 pm
Clearihue D261