KFA New Collective Agreement Update March 1 2024
Hello KFA members,
I want to take this opportunity to provide you with the current status of the implementation of our new KPU-KFA Collective Agreement, April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2025.
- The new KPU/KFA 2022-2025 Collective Agreement is currently being finalized and will be available on our website shortly.
- The retro-active payments are currently being processed by KPU Payroll. As outlined in our last message of January 15th, the Employer committed to have this payment applied by the end of May. We are continuing to engage with the KPU Administration to speed up this process.
- As mentioned in my January 15th communication, a new ongoing Health Benefits Fund was established to cover health expenses for Non-Regular Type 1 faculty. We are still working with KPU Administration to develop the guidelines and process for this Fund administration. When this work is complete, we will put out further communication to our members with the details of this benefit.
- We have received confirmation from KPU Administration that all benefit changes for Regular and Non-Regular Type 2 faculty have now been made by Manulife. The KPU Administration has provided an update via Today@KPU on February 22, 2024 on the changes to our coverage.
In Solidarity,
Raphael Lagoutin
Intersections of Gendered Violence Experienced by Faculty at KPU
Good day KPU Faculty!!
Friday, March 8 is International Women’s Day. I will be hosting an online panel on Tuesday March 19, titled “Intersections of Gendered Violence Experienced by Faculty at KPU”. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 19 11:30am to 12:30pm for a KPU faculty Zoom panel discussion.
Dr Balbir Gurm, Dr Fiona Whittington-Walsh and Dr Cherylynn Bassani will speak on intersections of gendered violence in our work place. Balbir will be focusing on intersections of ethnicity and race, Fiona on intersections of disability and Cherylynn on some initial findings from the faculty survey that she conducted in November 2023 on gendered violence that KPU faculty have experienced. Each will briefly talk, though the majority of time will be held for faculty sharing.
The Zoom link will open at 11am, with the meeting beginning at 11:30am.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/68070423633
Meeting ID: 680 7042 3633
I hope to see you online! I will send a list of other International Women’s Day events in March. If you know of a Women’s Day event that you would like me to share please email me directly with the link and general information (day, time, title, etc.).
In solidarity of a workplace free of gendered violence,
Cherylynn Bassani
Status of Women Representative, Kwantlen Faculty Association
A KFA faculty representative needed for Langley OH&S committee
Dear KFA Members,
The KFA is looking for a faculty member who regularly teaches on the Langley Campus to serve on the Langley Occupational Health & Safety Committee. This is a joint committee with representatives from KFA, BCGEU and KPU Administration.
- Meetings currently occur on the third Tuesday of every month.
- Currently, meetings are still virtual.
- 8 hours of training for OH&S is provided per year which is typically done in 2 – 4 hour sessions about 6 months apart.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please let us know by responding to Raphael Lagoutin by February 23, 2024.
KFA Retro and New Collective Agreement Update
Hello KFA members,
I want to take this opportunity to provide you with the current status of the implementation of our new KPU-KFA Collective Agreement, April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2025.
At our last KFA meeting, I outlined to our membership the retro-payments and improvements to health benefits that we are entitled to in our new collective agreement.
Here is some additional information on some of these items.
Faculty Raises/Retroactive Payments
As of last Friday, the Employer anticipates that faculty salary increases will be implemented by for the February 9th, 2024 pay cheque. The Employer also anticipates having the retroactive payments made to all employees no later than May 31, 2024. The KFA Table Officers are discussing the Employer’s position on this implementation schedule and we will be engaging with the Employer to shorten this period.
Educational Leave Coverage Change
The Employer anticipates that the Educational Leave amounts will be updated to 100% by February 9th, 2024. These payments are retroactive to September 1, 2023, so if your Education Leave commenced after September 1, 2023, you should receive a retroactive lift to 100% for your leave.
Personal PD Allotment Change
Effective January 5, 2024: Personal PD allotment has been changed from $100/year to $250/year.
- This Fund rolls over at the end of each fiscal year (March 31st).
- If you already claimed $100 for 2023/24 Fiscal Year, you can submit receipt(s) for the difference ($150). These receipts will have to be dated after the effective date.
- KPU Expense Form needs to be filled out for these funds, as per the usual process.
Implementation of Health Benefits Improvements
- Effective September 1, 2023: Delisted Services of $2000/person per year for the following practitioners: chiropractor, osteopath, podiatrist/chiropodist, massage therapist, naturopath, speech therapist, physiotherapist, acupuncturist, and dietician.
- Amount resets at the end of each calendar year.
- Manulife should have the new changes updated by February 9th, 2024.
- If you have previously submitted claims incurred after the effective date, or submit claims between now and the date Manulife’s systems are updated, those claims will be (or have already been) adjudicated based on the terms of the prior collective agreement. You should be able to obtain higher benefits for this time period without resubmitting the receipts. For any problems, please contact KPU HR Benefits.
- Effective September 1, 2023: Mental Health Services of $2000/person per year for the following practitioners: clinical counsellor, social worker, psychotherapist, and psychologist.
- Amount resets at the end of each calendar year.Manulife should have the new changes updated by February 9th, 2024.
- If you have previously submitted claims incurred after the effective date, or submit claims between now and the date Manulife’s systems are updated, those claims will be (or have already been) adjudicated based on the terms of the prior collective agreement. You should be able to obtain higher benefits for this time period without resubmitting the receipts. For any problems, please contact KPU HR Benefits.
- Effective April 1, 2023: Health Spending Account: $225/person per year.
- Used to top-up extended health and dental expenditures over and above the category maximum.
- Credits can be banked for one calendar year for a maximum allotment of $450.
- Amount resets at the end of each fiscal year (March 31st).
- Effective January 1, 2024: Employee Wellness Fund: $500 per regular faculty member.
- Taxable Benefit.
- One-time only.
- Eligible expenses are described in the New 2022-2025 Collective Agreement.
- KPU recommends that you hold claims until KPU provides a confirmation via Today@KPU.
- Employees are required to submit eligible receipts incurred between January 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.
- Effective January 5, 2024: Eye examinations maximum increased to $125.
- Amount resets at the end of each calendar year
- Manulife should have the new changes updated by February 9th, 2024.
- If you submit claims between the effective date and the date Manulife’s systems are updated, those claims will be (or have already been) adjudicated based on the terms of the prior collective agreement. You should be able to obtain higher benefits for this time period without resubmitting the receipts. For any problems, please contact KPU HR Benefits
If you have Coordination of Benefits with other plans, you should contact Manulife for next steps at 1-800-575-2200.
Please find attached a PDF graphic that helps explain these changes.
The New Collective Agreement is being prepared
KPU and KFA are currently working on revising the 2022-2025 KPU/KFA Collective Agreement to include all negotiated changes. Once the copy is available, we will upload it to our website.
In the next few weeks, the KFA will also be putting out communication on more specifics of the new collective agreement.
In Solidarity,
Raphael Lagoutin
KFA Vice-President Negotiations
2024-25 International Solidarity Fund
Dear KFA Members / KPU Colleagues,
Wishing you all the best with your 2024 ! The call for proposals [CFP] was announced this past Friday for funding of new or existing community-based/led/partnered projects, plans, initiatives that furthers international solidarity, human rights, social justice, labour rights and/or education. All regular and non-regular KPU faculty members are encouraged to consider proposing such projects or initiatives from this labour-sponsored fund which is supported by your union dues.
Previously Kwantlen Faculty Assocation [KFA] members have proposed partnership projects to the ISF (one project focused on work with Indigenous peoples in Brazil; another on nutrition in India; and others have been supported through the ISF over the years). In the coming days, I will send you several profiles of successful recent ISF projects. More information about the ISF and relatively straightforward application process can be found on the FPSE/Federation of Post-Secondary Educators website here: https://fpse.ca/campaigns-issues/international-solidarity/call-for-proposals
The 2024 fund is now accepting applications. You may access the online application form and submit a proposal. Funds will be disbursed to successful applicants after the Annual General Meeting, scheduled for May 13 – 16, 2024.
fpse.ca
You have until Feb.26th this year to submit your short ISF applications / proposals to FPSE (please cc. to myself / KFA, Kwantlen Faculty Assoc.) for the 2024-25 round of funding. Please see details and the CFP links below. If you have any further questions about the ISF or the application process, please do not hesitate to drop me a note.
Kind Regards,
~david
KFA-FPSE Human Rights & International Solidarity Rep.
Kwantlen Faculty Association (Local 05, FPSE-BC)
Greetings,
The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators is accepting requests to access funding from the 2024 International Solidarity Fund (ISF) until Monday, February 26, 2024.
You may access the ISF Application Form other ISF information on our website.
The ISF is designed to support long-term, ongoing projects that build partnerships between our Federation and people in the disadvantaged world.
Primarily, the fund supports solidarity partnerships as distinct from traditional charity efforts, helping community groups and organizations who are organizing themselves to advance social justice or to defend their basic human rights. The intent is also to build enduring and stable relationships, based on the conviction that solidarity is a two-way street: people organizing in the disadvantaged world or here at home can teach and inspire us in our own work for social justice. To be eligible for funding, projects must be housed in or originate from an FPSE local, or have a demonstrated, long-standing relationship with an FPSE local. Proposals should state clearly how projects meet the principles and goals set out in the ISF’s terms of reference.
Kindest regards,
Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC | fpse.ca
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish)
& səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories
KFA Online Open Office Hours Schedule for Spring 2024
Dear KFA Members,
We are pleased to announce the KFA Open Office Hours schedule for Spring 2024. Representatives from the KFA Table Officers and/or Executive Committee will be available on Teams (via the links in your Outlook Calendar) at the times designated to take questions, provide updates, and chat about anything that’s on your mind regarding your work at KPU. Please drop in if you’re around!
If these times don’t work for you, or your matter is more confidential, please remember we are also available by email (see https://dev.yourkfa.ca/contact/, or send a message to a Table Officer or Executive rep directly) or phone (604-599-2200 – voicemails will be returned as soon as possible).
January:
- Thursday January 18th, from 1:00 pm-2:30 pm, via Teams
February:
- Friday February 23rd, from 9:30 am-11:00 am, via Teams
March:
- Monday March 25th, 2:30 pm-4:00 pm, via Teams
May:
- Wednesday May 1st, 10:00 am-11:30 am, via Teams
We look forward to meeting with you!
Sincerely,
Mark Diotte, Diane Walsh, Raphael Lagoutin, Rachelle Hollaway, Rebecca Yoshizawa, Jaisun Garcha
