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Union 96-07-25
INTHEMATTEROFANARBITRATION BETWEEN CAMBRIANCOLLEGEOFAPPLIEDARTSANDTECHNOLOGY Employer -AND ONTARIOPUBLICSERVICEEMPLOYEESUNION,LOCAL655 Union ANDINTHEMATTEROFA UNIONPOLICYGRIEVANCE Grievance BEFORE: Prof.C.GordonSimmons,Chairperson Ms.PatriciaHennessy,EmployerNominee Ms.SherrillMurray,UnionNominee APPEARANCESFORTHEEMPLOYER: Mr.StephenShamie,Counsel APPEARANCESFORTHEUNION: Ms.RebeccaMurdoek,In-HouseCounsel AhearingintothismatterwasheldinSudbury,OntarioonFebruary6,1996. -2 Thefactsinthismatterarenotindispute.ProfessorCarlSommererretired effectiveAugust31,1995.Hehadbeenafull-thneprofessorteachingphotographycourses intheSchoolofCommunication&CreativeArts.Therewereessentiallysixphotography coursestaughttostudentsinvariousareas.InJournalismthereweretwophotography courses;inGraphicDesigntherewerethreephotographycourses;andinAdvertising& PublicRelationstherewasonephotographycoursethatwastaught.Thisrequiredteaching approximatelybetween15and18hourseachsemesterandProfessorSommererhadtaught thesecoursesonafull-timebasisforapproximately20years.Earlyin1995theCollege issuedanEarlyLeavingAssistancePlan(Exhibit4)whichProfessorSommerertook advantageofandretiredonAugust31,1995.TheCollege,forreasonsthatwillbe explainedlater,decidednottopostProfessorSommerer'spositionbutelectedinsteadto placeasessionalemployee,Mr.Doucet,intothepositionwhohasbeencarryingoutthe dutiesofProfessorSommererduringthe1995/96academicyear.TheUnionhasobjected tothisclaimingthattheCollegehasviolatedthecollectiveagreementbynotpostingthe positionforafull-timeacademicassignment.TheUnionclaimsthattheCollegehas violatedArticle27.11inthecollectiveagreementwhereastheCollegetakestheposition thatitdidnotviolatethecollectiveagreementandreliesonArticles6and2tosupport itspositionthatitdidnotviolatethecollectiveagreement.Thesearticlesreadasfollows: Article27.11 POSTINGS 27.11ANoticewillbepostedintheCollegeofallvacanciesoffull limepositionsinthebargainingunit.Suchnoticewillbepostedforatleast fiveworkingdays. Atthesametime,noticeofthesevacancieswillbesenttotheUnionLocal PresidentfordistributiontotheotherUnionLocalPresidents. -3 TheCollegewillalsoforwardcopiesofthenoticetotheotherCollegeswith theintentionthattheybeposted. 27.11BWhereavacancyofafoil-timepositioninthebargainingunitoccurs andisnotfilledinternally,theCollegewillgiveconsiderationtoapplications receivedfromacademicemployeeslaidoffatothercollegesbeforegiving considerationtootherexternalapplicants.Suchconsiderationshallbegiven foruptoandincludingtenworkingdaysfromthedateofpostingas describedin27.11A. Considerationwillincludereviewofthecompetence,skillandexperiemeofthe applicantsinrelationtotherequirementsofthevacantposition. Article2 STAFFING 2.01TheCollegesshallnotreclassifyprofessorsasinstructorsexceptthroughthe applicationofArticle27,JobSecurity. 2.02TheCollegewillgivepreferencetothedesignationoffull-timepositionsas regularratherthanpartlal-loadteachingpositionssubjecttosuchoperationalrequirements asthequalityoftheprograms,attainmemoftheprogramobjectives,theneedforspecialqualificationsandthemarketacceptabilityofthe programstoemployers,students,andthecommunity. 2.03ATheCollegewillgivepreferencetothedesignationoffull-timepositions asregularcontinuingteachingpositionsratherthansessionalteachingpositions including,inparticular,positionsarisingasaresultofnewpostsecondary programssubjecttosuchoperationalrequirementsasthequalityofthe programs,enrohnentpatternsandexpectations,attainmentofprogramobjectives,theneedforspecialqualificadomandthemarketacceptabilityofthe programstoemployers,students,andthecommunity.TheCollegewillnot abusesessionalappointmentsbyfailingtofillongoingpositiomassoonas possiblesubjecttosuchoperationalrequirementsasthequalityoftheprograms,attainmentofprogramobjectives,theneedforspecialqualifications,andenrolmentpatternsandexpectations. 2.03BTheCollegewillnotabusetheusageofsessionalappointmentsbycombining sessionalwithpartial-loadserviceandtherebymaintaininganemployment relationshipwiththeCollegeinordertocircumventthecompletionof theminimum12monthssessionalemploymentina24monthperiod. 2.03CIfCollegecontinuesafull-timepositionbeyondonefullacademicyear ofstaffingthepositionwithsessionalappointments,theCollegeshalldesignate thepositionasaregularfull-timebargainingunitpositionandshallfill thepositionwithamemberofthebargainingunitassoonasapersoncapable ofperformingtheworkisavailableforhiringonthisbasis. Article6 MANAGEMENTFUNCTIONS 6.01ItistheexclusivefunctionoftheCollegesto:(i)maintainorder,diseiplinoandefficiency; -4 ( (ih3 hire,discharge,transfer,classify,assign,appoint,promote,demote,layoff,recallandsuspendorotherwisediscipliemployees subjecttothefighttolodgeagrievanceinthemannerandtotheextentprovidedinthisAgreement.managetheCollegeand,withoutrestrictingthegensralityofthe foregoing,therighttoplan,directandconoloperations,facilities,programs,courses,systemsandprocedures,directits personnel,determinecomplement,organization,ntbedsand thenumber,locationandclassificationofpelnnclrequired fromtimetotime,thenumberandlocationof campusesandfacilities,servicestobeperformed,thesclulingofassignmemsandwork,theextension,limitation,curtailment,orcessationofoperationsandallotherfightsand responsibilitiesnotspecificallymodifiedeisewbeminthis Agreement. 6.02TheCollegesagreethatthesefunctionswillbeexercisedinamanner consistentwithtimprovisionsofthisAgreement. TheUnionelectedtocallnoevidencebuttheCollegedecidedtocallMr.Geoff CudmorewhoistheDeanoftheSchoolofCommunication&Artswhosedepartmentis responsiblefortheteachingofthesixphotographycoursesthatarebeingofferedbythe College.Therearetwojournalismphotographycourses;threegraphicdesignphotography courses;andonephotographycourseinadvertisement&graphicdesign. DeanCudmoretestifiedthatProfessorSommerer'sdepartureinAugust,1995allowed theCollegetoreviewitsphotographyprogram.Itestablishedanadvisorycommittee (Exhibit6)todelveintotherelevanceofthisprogram.DeanCudmoretestifiedthatwhile theCollegeprovidessomeequipmentmanystudentseitherrentorbuytheirownequipment atacostofbetween$500and$1000persemester. DeanCudmorefurthertestifiedthatthecommitteeiscontinuingtomeetandis reviewingeveryelementoftheprogram.Thepotentialoutcomeofthisstudyisthatthe Collegewillstopofferingthisprogram.Anotheroptionwillbetohavethephotography offeredaspartofanothercourse. -5 InsofarasthetwocoursesthatareofferedinJournalismwewereinformedthat technologyisthebiggestissue.Thatisbecausemostnewspaperpublishersnowusedigital equipmenttotransmitandprintimages.TheequipmentthattheCollegehasischemically basedwhichrequiresadarkroomforprocessingandtheissueiswhethertomovefroma chemicalbasetoadigitalmodewhichwouldincurcostsofbetween$40,000and$601000 perunit.OneoftheissuesisthattheCollegeistrainingreportersandnotphotographers andthereforeasksitselfwhethertheCollegeshouldbeteachingphotography. ThethreephotographycoursesinGraphicDesignareinvolvedinaprovince-wide initiativeinthattheCollegeStandards&AccreditationCouncilisattemptingtoestablish province-wideprograms.WhiletheCollegepresentlyhasathreeyearprogramoneofthe issuesbeinglookedatbytheStandards&AccreditationCounciliswhethertheywillbe establishingamodelprograminvolvingtwoorthreeyears.Theoutcomeofthatstudyis notavailableatthisdate. TheUnionsubmitsthattheCollegehasanobligationtopostfull-timevacancies pursuanttoArticle27.11.TheUniontakesthepositionthatthereisavacancybecause ofProfessorSommerer'sretirementbuttheCollegedisputesthatthereissuchavacancy. Further,theUnionassertsthatArticle2.03ArequirestheCollegetogivepreferenceto thedesignationoffull-timepositionsratherthantosessionalteachingpositions. Insupportofitsposition,theUnionreferredtheBoardtothreecasesthatstandfor thepropositionthataretirementisdeemedtobeavacancy.SeethedecisionofArbitrator CharlesJ.KeliherbetweenTheNorthside.VictoriaDistrictSchoolBoardandThe CanadianUnionofPublicEmployees,Local981,unreporteddatedJanuary12,1987; -8 wasthecollegehadfailedtogivepreferencetothedesignationof"full-time"positionsas regularteachingpositionsratherthan"partial-loadandsessional"teachingpositions,inits divisionatitsnortherncampus.TheBoardsetsoutthepositionsofthepartiesquite clearlyatp.3ofthisdecisionwhichreadsasfollows: ...ExtensiveevidencewasadducedbeforetheBoardconcerningtheusewhichwas madeofpartial-loadandsessionalteachingpositionsduringtheperiodfrom Winter92toWinter'93intlDivision'sLegalAssistant,ManagementStudies,Marketing,ComputerInformationSystems,andOfficeAdministrationprogram areas.EvidencewasalsoadmittedregardingtheDivision'suseofsuch lxitionsduringsubsequentsemesters,andtheactualandplannedhiringof newfull-timeteachersintheDivision,astheBoardwassatisfiedthatsuchevklew,ewasofat-,uablerelevancetotheissueofwhatremedialreliefwouldbe appropriateintheeventthatthegrievancessucceeded.ItisclearfromthetotalityoftheevidencethattheDivisionreliedquite beavilyuponpartial-loadandsessionalteachingpositionsinthedeliveryof coursesinitsLegalAssistant,ManagementStudies,Marketing,ComputerInformation Systems,andOlfr,eAdministrationprogramareasduringthethreesemesters coveredbythegrievance. IIi TheHoweBoarddiscussed"specialqualifications.asthattermappearsinArticles 2.02and2.03Aaswellas"enrolmentpatternsandexpectations"asthattermappearsin Article2.03A.TheBoardstatedthatiftheenrolmentincreasesweretobecomerelatively permanentthenthecollegecouldnotlegitimatelycontinuetojustifyusingpartial-loador sessionalteachingpositionstocoverthemandsubsequentacademicyearsasthiswouldbe inconsistentwiththerequirementsofArticle2. TheBoardintheHumberCollegethenwentontosaythatfromthetotalityofthe evidencethatwasadducedatthathearing,thefinancialconsiderationsplayedasubstantial roleinthecollege'sheavyrelianceonpartial-loadandsessionalteachingpositionsinits BusinessDivision.TheBoardstatedthatusingsuchpositionswasconsiderablylesscosily forthecollegethanemployingadditionalfull-timeprofessors.Itwouldappearfroma -9 readingoftheHumberdecisionthattheinterpretationof"operationalrequirements"that wasurgedbyCounselforthecollegewasduetofinancialconsiderations.Atpp.10and 11theBoardstatedthefollowing: ...Sincefmaialmattersarealmostinvariablyofverygreatimportancetoparties negotiatingcollectiveagreemems,onewouldreasonablyexpectthatfffinancial considerationsworeintendedtoformpartofthe'operationalrequiremams'exceptiontothegeneralrulespecifiedinArdcle2.022.03A,thepartieswouldhavespecificallyreferredtoitintheirlistof examples,particularlywheretheCollege'sabilitytorelyuponfinancialconsiderations inapplyingthoseprovisionscouldwellgiverisetoanexceptionof suchmagnitudeastovirtuallyeliminatethegeneralrule. TheHumberBoardwentontodeclarethatthecollegehadcontravenedArticles2.02and 2.03Ainfailingtogivepreferencetothedesignationoffull-timepositions. TheUnionthereforeseeksadeclarationthattheEmployerhasbreachedthe collectiveagreementandrequeststheBoardtoorderthatthepositionbeposted. TheCollegeassertsthatthedecisionintheinstanteasefallsonthewording containedinthecollectiveagreementwhichmakesthiscasedifferentfromallofthe foregoingeasesthattheUnionpresented.ItisthepositionoftheCollegethatthe collectiveagreementgivestheCollegetherighttodoasitdidforthe1995/96semester year.ThereasoningofCounselfortheCollegeisasfollows.Article27.11Asetsout thenoticetopost.Theissuehoweveriswhetherthereisavacancyinafull-timeposition thatistobeposted.CounselthenreferredtheBoardtoArticle6.01(i)(ii)(iii)which allowstheCollegetherighttodetermineefficiency,toassignorappointemployees,and tomanagethecollegeincludingtherighttoplan,directandcontrolcourses,andtodirect itspersonnelcomplement,methodsandthenumberofpersonnelrequiredtoteach.This, accordingtocounsel,makesitclearthatmanagementhastherighttodetermineifthere -10 isavacantposition.CounselacknowledgesthatArticle6.02preventstheCollegefrom doinganythingthatisinconsistentwiththetermsofthecollectiveagreement.Butthekey clause,accordingtocounsel,whichdistinguishestheUnioneasesisArticle2.While Article2.03Agivespreferencetofull-timeemployees,Article2.03Cspecifiesthatthe Collegehastherighttofillafull-timepositionwithasessionalappointmentforone academicyearbutifthepositioncontinuesthentheCollegemustdesignatethepositionas aregularfull-timebargainingunitposition.SotheCollegetakesthepositionthat Article2.03Cpermitsittoappointasessionalpersontoafull-timepositionforoneyear. SobylookingatArticles27.11,6,and2.03CtheCollegeisgiventherighttodetermine whetherornotthereisavacancytobefilledbyafull-timeemployee. Furthermore,accordingtotheEmployer,theevidenceofDeanCudmoremakesit obviouswhytheCollegedidnotpostafull-timevacancy.TheDeanhasaconcernover theviabilityofthesixphotographycoursesanditwouldbeirresponsibletopostafull-time positionuntilthedecisionastotheviabilityofthesixcourseshasbeenmade.Thereare anumberofoperationalconcernsandtheCollegedecidedtostaffthesecourseswitha sessionalappointmentforthe1995/96academicyear. Insupportofitsdecision,theCollegereferredtheBoardtoseveralarbitration decisions.InNiagaraCollegeandOntarioPublicServiceEmployeesUnion(ReGrievance No.87L76),anunreporteddecisionchairedbyPamelaC.PicherdatedJanuary16,1989 thatboardwasurgedtoconsidertheoperationalrequirementsofthecollege.Atp.4of thatdecisiontheboardstates: -11 Counselmaintainsthatoperationalrequirementsandtheeconomicviabilityof theeveningapprenticeshipprograminissuewouldbejpardizedbythe utilizationoffull-timeteachersandthat,accordingly,theCollegewasnot requiredtoallowMr.Evanstodisplacepart-timeteachersinthatprogram. TheNiagaracaseinvolvedapolicygrievanceconcerningtheproposedlayoffofonefull timeteacherintheadulttrainingsectionoftheSchoolofTechnology.Itwastheunion's positionthatthefull-timeteacheroughttohavebeenpermittedtoassumeteaching responsibilitiesinaneveningapprenticeshipprogramwhichistaughtbypan-timeteachers whoarenotmembersofthebargainingunit.ThePicherboardhadthefollowingtosay atpp.17and18: Whethertheapprenticeshipprogramisessentialandwhetheritwould heappropriatefortheCollegetooperatetheapprenticeshipprogramatasubstantiallyincreasedloss,isnotaproperquestionforthisBoardof Arbitrationtodecide.TheissueiswhethertheCollegewasrequiredtodo sobythetermsofthecollectiveagreementinorderto'givepreferenceto continuationoffull-timepositions'withinthemeaningofarticle8.04(c).We aresatisfiedthattheCollegeactedwithinitsjurisdictionindeterminingthat itwasnoteconomicallyviabletocontinueMr.Evansinafull-timeposition bymovinghimintotheeveningappremice.pprogram.Timevidencereveals thattheimpactofsodoingwouldhetosubstantiallyincreasetheeconomic costofrunningtheprogramincircumstanceswheretheCollegecouldnot anticipatebeingabletogeneratesufficientadditionalrevenuetooffsettim increasedcosts. Intheresult,IamsatisfiedthattheCollegeactedwithinitsfights underthecollectiveagreementwhenitdeclimdtocontinueMr.Evam'full timepositionbyallowinghimtodisplacepart.timeteachersin apprentice,shipprogram.Giventhedetrimentalimpactofhissodoingonthe economicviabilityoftheapprenticeshipprogram,andgiventheoperational requlrene.ntsoftheapprenticeshipprogram,theCollegewasnotobligatedby thecollectiveagreementtocontinueMr.Evan'sfull-timeposition. TheevidencethatwaspresentedbeforetheBoardbyDeanCudmoresatisfiesthe BoardthatthephotographyprogramthatProfessorSommererhadtaughtforthepast20 yearswasundergoingaseriousreviewastoitsfuture.Ithadestablishedanadvisory -19. committeetodelveintotherelevanceoftheprogramtodeterminewhetherornotthe Collegeshouldcontinuetheprogramandconvertitschemically-basedequipmenttodigital equipmentwasviable.Furthermore,theprimarypurposeoftheCollege'sprogramwas trainingreportersandnotphotographers.Therefore,itwouldappeartothisBoardthatthe Collegewastakingaveryhardlookatitsoperationalrequirementsandthiswasnotbased onfinancialconsiderationsaswasthesituationintheHumberCollegecase.SotheBoard agreeswiththeevidenceandsubmissionsmadeonbehalfoftheCollegebut,ofcourse, Article2.03CplacesalimitationonwhattheCollegecando.Whileitwouldappearthat theappoinanentofasessionalpersontocontinuethecoursesduringthe1995/96academic yearispermissible,iftheCollegecontinuestoprovidesuchcoursesintothe1996/97 academicyearthenitwouldhavetopostafull-timepositionpursuanttoArticle2.03C. TheHumberdecisionisfurtherdistinguishablefromtheinstantsituationinthatitspanned threesemesterswhichcoveredmorethanonefullacademicyear. ForalloftheforegoingreasonstheBoardissatisfiedthattheEmployerdidnot violatethecollectiveagreementandthegrievancethereforemustbeandishereby dismissed. P -13 DatedatKingston,Ontario,this25thdayofJuly,1996. C.GordonSimmons Chairperson Ieoncur/ "PatriciaHennessy" PatriciaHennessy EmployerNominee Ieonetrr/dissent DissentAttached SherrillMurray UnionNominee Althoughtemptedtobeswayedbythepracticaloutcomeofthemajority decisioninthismatter,thismembermustdissent. Itisclearfromthetheevidence,avacancyexists;abonafidecomplementposition.TheDevlinawarddictatespersuasivelythefactorstobeexamined todeterminewhetherornotavacancyexists.Giventheevidencepresentedtothis Board,thereisnodoubtregardingtheongoing,unchangednatureofthe positionatissue.Despitethecontinuingexaminationofthephotographycourse,therehasbeennomovebythecollegetoalteroreliminatethe program, ThelanguageofArt.2,clearlysupportsfull-timedesignationinoppositiontosessionalappointments. Thebargainingunithasbeenerrodedinanticipationorspeculationofchange,andofcoursethereislanguagetodealwiththattypeofpossibility. Thismemberfindsthatthemajorityhaserroneouslydeterminedtheevidence againstthelanguageoftheagreementandwouldhaveupheldthegrievance. Sherri!Murray,6/ Unionnominee