The TFA has reached a settlement in regards to a grievance and a related unfair labour practice the TFA filed against the University Administration. The settlement pertains to the restrictions the Administration placed on one of our Labour Relations Officers (LRO). These restrictions impeded on their ability to participate in meetings with the University, a more detailed outline of the events can be read in the Grievance Officer’s report in the most recent Bulletin.
The settlement was unequivocal, the Administration rescinded all restrictions placed on our LRO and agreed to communicate this to Deans, HRS, HR, WW, OVPRI, Privacy Office and members of the TFA. The complaint filed at HR and HRS by a Dean against our LRO has also been withdrawn.
While the TFA welcomes this settlement as a victory, we want to highlight the troubling nature of the Administration’s overreach. Our LRO was subject to a complaint from a Dean for simply doing their job effectively. By placing sanctions on our LRO the Administration has caused reputational harm to them and interfered with their ability and by extension the TFA’s ability to do its work in representing our members.
From the outset the TFA rejected the very idea that the Administration could dictate terms of employment on an employee of the TFA. Our staff are employees of the TFA, not the University, and are therefore bound by the policies and practices of the Association and the Labour Relations Act. In order to protect and support a union, the Ontario Labour Relations Act allows for vigorous advocacy which is fully acceptable in a labour relations context. The Administration’s attempts to do so undermine the ability of the TFA to conduct its business and erode labour relations. The terms of the settlement reflect the TFA’s position and recognize the special role of TFA’s representatives under the Ontario Labour Relations Act and their rights to vigorously represent and defend the membership.
The TFA is pleased with the outcome of the settlement, but this situation should never have occurred in the first place. We are attaching the minutes of settlement for all members to read. We reiterate our unequivocal support of our Labour Relations Officers and we will continue to vigorously do the work of advocating for our members.