Faculty Bargaining Bulletin: Vol. 9, No. 7

UWOFA and the employer met for bargaining on Friday September 11. Conciliation begins Tuesday September 15 and our bargaining team will continue negotiations with Members’ priorities at the centre of the discussion.

AI is on the bargaining table

Artificial intelligence is already changing academic work and raising questions about teaching, research, workload, academic freedom, intellectual property, and job security.

The Employer has indicated a willingness to develop a Letter of Understanding on Artificial Intelligence. The proposed LOU would establish processes for consultation, disclosure, and human oversight when AI is used in ways that affect Members. But consultation is not the same as protection.

We are pushing for language that demonstrates clearly that AI cannot be used to replace Members’ work. That includes protecting the instructor-student relationship and ensuring the Employer can not use AI to create or deliver courses, eliminate employment or reduce income for contract faculty, or reduce the complement in a unit. This language was included in our original proposal, but the employer has not agreed to it.

Dean imposed alternative workload continues to return

The Employer has brought its Dean imposed Alternative Workload proposal back to the table with modifications.

Unlike the earlier proposal, which would have allowed a Dean to impose an Alternative Workload based on their assessment that a Member was significantly less active than their Unit’s norms for Research or Scholarship Activities, the modified proposal would connect the process to successive PE ratings below the acceptable level. This latest iteration of the Employer’s proposal also deletes the language “without the Member’s consent”, but we are not convinced that this change in wording makes the proposed process any more consensual.We remain concerned about giving Deans the ability to impose an Alternative Workload when the collective agreement already provides a process for addressing concerns about Members fulfilling their academic responsibilities.

Show the Employer what matters to Members

AI and workload are two examples of what is at stake in this round of bargaining.

Salaries matter. Benefits matter. Stability for contract faculty matters. Workload matters. AI protections matter.

The Employer has not agreed to improvements we are seeking. The next step is for Members to show that these priorities have their support.

Conciliation begins Tuesday. A strong YES vote will strengthen our position at the table and give UWOFA a mandate to take further action if necessary.

It’s time to make our priorities clear. Vote YES.