TRUFA President’s Report to the Membership

Colleagues,

Here are some of the key issues with which I have been involved during the past month.

Williams Lake Update

TRUFA table officers—the President and the Vice Presidents—will travel to Williams Lake on May 2^ndthrough 4^thto meet with Williams Lake faculty members.  The plan is to consult with the new co-chairs of the Williams Lake Faculty Council—Donna Bentham and Rhonda McCreight—on developments affecting their campus, which I reported on in March.  In particular, TRUFA is anxious to learn more about what impact the appointment of an interim Associate Dean who will provide oversight of academic programs for the campus has had on WL faculty and their programs.  We will also meet with the interim Associate Dean—Kathy Lauriente—and will attend a retirement event for long-time English and Modern Languages faculty member, Barbara Bearman.

TRUFA Executive

The TRUFA Executive met on April 6^th.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Executive members began debate on a proposed 2018-2019 TRUFA budget.The first draft of the proposed budget was prepared by Treasurer Kevin Barrie, Confidential Administrative Assistant Marian Griffin (who is responsible for financial management for the Association) and myself.  Because the current TRU/TRUFA Collective Agreement expires on March 31, 2019, this coming year will be highlighted by contract negotiations and TRUFA must provide appropriate resources to support bargaining. The budget will reflect an increase in release time afforded to the TRUFA chief negotiator.
• A key component of developing a budget for 2018-2019 has been examining the financials from this past year. Members will see that 2017-2018 fiscals show a surplus, which resulted from higher than expected dues, an underspending of available budget lines for several TRUFA committees, and unused release time.
• The Executive has recommended two Extraordinary Resolutions for consideration by the Annual General Meeting:
  • The creation of a Vice President, Williams Lake and Regions. This position will enhance the role of the current Williams Lake representative on the Executive by having this VP participate in TRUFA Table Officers and in the Labour Management Consultative Committee.
  • The addition of a new TRUFA standing committee—Decolonization Reconciliation and Indigenization. As you may recall, TRUFA approved the creation of an ad hoc committee in the fall and now the Executive would like this committee to have full constitutional status.  The chair or co-chairs of the committee will sit on the TRUFA Executive with one vote.  Currently, the ad hoc DRI Committee is co-chaired by Shelly Johnson and Lisa Bourque Bearskin and has had two very successful meetings.
• TRUFA will make a submission to the President’s Task Force on Mental Health & Well-Being in May. Once the TRU draft recommendations are circulated later this month, you may send feedback to the task force chair, Chris Adam, and to the following members, who have volunteered to prepared TRUFA’s submission:  Amy Tucker (TRUFA Health & Safety representative), Melissa Svendsen, Teressa Fedorak and Paul Grand.
• The TRUFA Status of Women Committee has prepared a report card on the TRU Sexual Violence Policy (BRD-25-0), which will be released later this month. The Committee will be asked to follow up on the results of the assessment.
• The TRUFA Communications Committee has revamped the trufa.ca website to make access to key information easier for members.In the lead up to negotiations and during bargaining itself, the website will be an important source of updates for TRUFA members.  Please familiarize yourselves with the website.
• The Executive heard a report from the Salary and Working Conditions Committee’s consultation with groups on bargaining priorities.
• TRUFA will send 13 delegates to the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) AGM in May.Ten spots have been filled by current representatives and three will be left open for any interested newly elected members at the TRUFA AGM.

Modo Lounge—TRUFA Social Events

I was able to attend the last of three TRUFA social events at the Modo Lounge on April 5^th.  Participants at all three events were universal in their support for continued opportunities to socialize with colleagues, particularly those from other departments or Faculties and Schools.  The Culinary Arts program – as usual – provided first-class appetizers and the welcoming atmosphere at the Lounge was very conducive to informal discussion.  The plan is to resume these social events in January through April 2019 once the Accolades dining room reverts to Modo Lounge status.

Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT)

I will be attending the meeting of the CAUT Council will be held on April 27^thto 29^thin Ottawa.

TRUFA Annual General Meeting—April 24th

The TRUFA AGM will be held in the Mountain Room (CAC) in Kamloops and ITV Room 1251 in Williams Lake on Tuesday, April 24^th.  Lunch will be served at 11:30 am and the business portion of the meeting will begin at 12 noon.

Please consider putting your name forward for an Executive position or a position on one of TRUFA’s standing committees. Please go to trufa.ca to see a list of available positions.

If you have questions about any of these issues, please contact me.

Submitted in solidarity,

Tom Friedman, TRUFA President