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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStrickland GroupINTHEMATTEROFACLASSIFICATIONARBITRATION BETWEEN: ONTARIOPUBLICSERVICEEMPLOYEESUNION,LOCAL416(hereinaftercalledtheUnion) -and ALGONQUINCOLLEGE (hereinaftercalledtheCollege) -and CLASSIFICATIONGRIEVANCESOF MS.JANETSTRICKLANDANDMS.NASTIATOUHLOVA (#2011-0416-0012) (hereinaftercalledtheGrievors) SOLEARBITRATOR PROFESSORIANA.HUNTER APPEARANCES: FORTHEUNION:Ms.ChristineKelsey Ms.JanetStrickland,Grievor Ms.NastiaTouhlova,Grievor FORTHECOLLEGE:Ms.DianeMcCutcheon,ActingDirector, LabourRelations Ms.LisaTaylor,Chair,Financial,OfficeandLegal Studies ANARBITRATIONHEARINGWASHELDATALGONQUINCOLLEGEIN OTTAWA,ONTARIOONMAY3,2013 DECISION (1)Introduction Beforemearetwo(2)grievances(Grievors-JanetStricklandandNastia Touhlova)datedAugust18,2011. BothGrievorsareemployedasStudentSuccessSpecialistsintheSchool ofBusinessatAlgonquinCollege. AsaresultofgrievancemeetingsbetweenthepartiestheP.D.F.was revisedbytheCollege(June2012),althoughnotagreedtobytheGrievors.The Collegehascore-pointratedthepositionat501points,Payband"G".TheUnion hascore-pointratedthepositionat558points,Payband"H". Thegrievancewasreferredtoarbitrationandanarbitrationhearingwas initiallyscheduledforMarch7,2013;however,thearbitratorwasillandunableto traveltoOttawa.ThearbitrationhearingwasheldonMay3,2013.Irecordmy gratitudetobothpartiesforthebriefssubmittedinadvanceofthehearing,and fortheirablepresentationsatthehearinginOttawa. (2)ABriefOverviewofthePosition TheStudentSuccessSpecialistworkswithbusinessstudentswitha mandatetofacilitatetheiracademicsuccessintheBusinessprogramat AlgonquinCollege.Thereareapproximatelythreethousand(3,000)studentsin thisprogram. Theincumbentmustpossessadetailedunderstandingof(a)theprograms offeredattheCollege;(b)howcourseandprogramchangesareeffected;(c) earlywarningsignsofastudent'sfailingperformance;and(d)retention initiatives.Theincumbentworkswithstudents,faculty,DepartmentalChairs, ProgramCoordinators,andDeanstodeterminethebestcourseofactionfor students. Theincumbentreviewsanddevelops"atrisk"measurementtechniques; plansandimplementsretentioninitiatives;andcompilesstatisticalreportson studentsuccess.Retentioninitiativesaredesignedtoassiststudentswhoareat riskoffailingordroppingout.RetentioninitiativesoriginatefromtheStudent SuccessCommittee,whichincludesFaculty,ManagementandSupportStaff fromseveralareasoftheCollege.Retentioninitiativesinclude"blackboard training"(beforeclassesbegin);mentoring;andinclasspresentationstoall incomingBusinessstudentsinthefirsttwo(2)weeksofclasses.Thisrepresents abouttwentypercent(20%)oftheincumbent'stime. 4 Theprimaryfunction(sixtytoseventypercent(60%-70%))isguidingand assistingstudents.Thisincludes(a)monitoringandtrackingstudentsuccess throughavarietyofformalandinformalmeans;(b)meeting,tutoringand mentoringstudentsindividuallyoringroups;(c)communicatingwith"atrisk" studentsasself-identifiedoridentifiedbyFaculty;and(d)advisingprospective, current,orformerstudentsattheStudentSuccessOfficeonsuchissuesas admissionrequirements,records,coursechanges,andprogramrequirements. TheotherpartoftheStudentSuccessSpecialistpositionisInformation Management(approximatelytwentypercent(20%)).ThisincludestheK.P.I. surveytoBusinessstudents;updatingtheDeanandFacultyonStudentSuccess initiatives;advisingonstudentretentiontechniques,andrelatedwork. (3)JobFactorsA.qreed Thepartiesareagreedonthefollowingjobfactors: RegularOccasionalJob FactorLevelPointsLevelPoints 1A.Education448 lB.Education13 2.Experience454 4.Planning/Coordinating23237 *6.IndependenceofAction37849 *ThisfactorwasindisputeinthebriefsIreceivedinadvance,butwasagreedtobythepartiesatthearbitrationhearingonMay3,2013. 8.Communication378 9.PhysicalEffort-Regular15 10.Audio/VisualEffort220 11.WorkingEnvironment17 4 2 9 9 6 (4)JobFactorsinDispute 3.AnalysisandProblemSolvinq Thisfactormeasuresthelevelofcomplexityinvolvedinanalyzing situations,informationorproblemsofvaryinglevelsofdifficulty;andin developingoptions,solutionsorotheractions. TheCollegehasratedthisfactoratLevel3:"Situationsandproblemsare identifiable,butmayrequirefurtherinquiryinordertodefinethem precisely.Solutionsrequiretheanalysisandcollectionofinformation, someofwhichmaybeobtainedfromareasorresourceswhicharenot normallyusedbytheposition." TheUnionhasratedthisfactoratLevel4:"Situationsandproblemsare notreadilyidentifiableandoftenrequirefurtherinvestigationandresearch. Solutionsrequiretheinterpretationandanalysisofarangeofinformation accordingtoestablishedtechniquesand/orprinciples." IhavereviewedtheexamplesprovidedintheP.D.F.(acknowledgingthat theP.D.F.isindispute),Ihavealsoreviewedtheadditionalexamples provided(inredink)intheUnionbrief.Iamsatisfiedthatallexamples, bothCollegeandUnion,fallcomfortablywithinaLevel3rating.The problemsarereadilyidentifiable,theincumbentmustbealerttorecognize whenadditionalinformationisrequired;he/shemayhavetoobtainsuch informationfromunconventionalsources.Thisisallembracedwithin Level3.Noneoftheexamples,ineithertheCollegeorUnionP.D.F.,orin theGrievors'testimony,tomymindestablisharegularandrecurring,or evenanoccasional,requirementtointerpretandanalyzeinformation usingestablishedtechniquesand/orprinciples. Page14oftheManual(underNotestoRaters)providesadescriptionof Level3AnalysisandProblemSolvingwhichIfind,ontheevidenceofthe Grievors,correspondsverycloselytowhattheyactuallydo. Forexample,Iaskedwhatthemostcomplexproblemencounteredwas? Theanswerwas:"Studentswithmentalhealthissues;Ihavetolistento themandreferthemappropriately.Igivethemahugtoshowthemwe care.Iwouldevenaccompanythemtothedoctor'soffice."Thisspecific exampleisanidentifiableproblemthatrequirestact,empathyandfollow up.Itdoesnotrequire"interpretationandanalysisofarangeof information"norresolutionbytheStudentSuccessSpecialistwith "establishedtechniquesand/orprinciples". 3.AnalysisandProblemSolvingLevel378Points 5.Guidin.q/Advisin#Others Thisfactoraddressesassignedresponsibilitytoguideoradviseothers withintheposition'sexpertise. TheCollegehasratedthisfactorLevel3:"Adviseotherstoenablethem toperformtheirday-to-dayactivities." TheUnionproposesLevel4:"Guide/adviseotherswithongoing involvementintheirprogress." "Advise"meanstorecommendorprovideknowledgeabledirection. Evenfromthepositiondescription("StudentSuccessSpecialist")itis obviousthatthepositionentailsworkingcloselywithstudentsandfaculty. Thatinvolvementisdirectedtooneend-helpingstudentstosucceedin theirBusinessprogram.Theincumbentprovidesknowledgeabledirection tothisend.AsIreadtheManual,andtheNotestoRaters(page18)the keydistinctionbetweenLevels3and4isthis:Istheguidance/advice providedbytheincumbentsporadic,"one-off'advice(Level3)oristherea continuing,ongoinginvolvementwiththestudenttoensuresuccess throughoutthestudent'sacademicprogram? 9 TheGrievors'evidenceonthiswasveryclear:theirinvolvementwiththe academiccareerofastudentwhomaybeatriskdoesnotendwiththe firstmeetingwiththestudent.Rather,theyfollow-upwiththestudent throughouthis/hercareeratAlgonquinCollegetograduation(and sometimesevenbeyond). True,theGrievorscannotrequireanystudenttofollow,orevento incorporate,theadviceprovided.Buttheyfollow-upinanongoingmanner with(a)thestudentand(b)whateverotherCollegefacilityorservicemay beinvolved(e.g.HealthServices,Registrar'sOffice,etc.).Ms.Strickland testifiedthat"mostofthetime"sheisinvolvedwithher"atrisk"students rightthroughtothatstudent'sgraduation,andthisevidencewasnot contradictedbyMs.LisaTaylor,Chair,Financial,OfficeandLegal Studies,theSupervisorwhotestifiedfortheCollege.Shetestified:"In somecases,theStudentSuccessSpecialistwillbeinvolvedthroughout thestudent'stimeattheCollege".SheexplainedthattheStudent SuccessSpecialistwillbeinvolvedwith"probablylessthanhalfthe studentsintheprogram",butwiththosestudentstheinvolvementcanbe "frequent". 10 Ontheevidencebeforeme,theGrievorshavean"ongoinginvolvement" inthestudent'sprogress.Therefore,IconcludedthatGuiding/Advising OthersshouldberatedatLevel4. 5.Guiding/AdvisingOthers Level441Points 7.ServiceDelivery Thisfactorconsiderstheservicerelationshipthatisanassigned responsibilityoftheposition.Inthiscase,therecipientsofserviceare primarilystudents. Istheprimaryfocusto"provideserviceaccordingtospecificationsby selectingthebestmethodofdeliveringservice"(theCollege)orto"tailor servicebasedondevelopingafullunderstandingofthecustomer'sneeds" (theUnion)? TheCollegeratingisRegularLevel2;OccasionalLevel3. TheUnionratingisRegularLevel3;OccasionalLevel3.Thiswasthe ratingprovidedintheP.D.F.Infact,theUnionmeantaRegularratingat Level3andnoOccasionalratingandproceededatthehearingonthat basis. TheNotestoRaters(Manualpage22)definesLevel3serviceas"tailoring service";meaningthatthepositionholdermust"askquestionstodevelop anunderstandingofthecustomer'ssituation".Thispointwasstressed overandoverintheiroralevidencebybothGrievors;theservicethey providedmustbe"customized...tosuitthecustomer'sparticular circumstances".TheevidenceofMs.Taylor,inmyjudgement,confirmed thevalidityofthisassessment.ThissuggestsLevel3. ItisinterestingthattheCollegeacknowledgedLevel3,butgivesitonlyan "Occasional"rating.ButtheevidenceoftheGrievorswasthattailoring advicetothespecificcustomer'sneedswasnotan"occasional"buta regularandrecurrent(infact,"constant")aspectoftheposition. Finally,InotethatAlgonquinhastriedtomaketheStudentSuccess Specialista"onestopshoppingarea"forstudentproblems.And,based ontheGrievors'evidence,thishasbeensuccessful.Ms.Strickland testified:"Ninetypercentofstudentproblemswillbeservicedbyus;in onlytenpercentofcaseswillthestudenthavetoseesomeoneelse".This isso,Iconcluded,becausethepositionmustgettothebottomofwhatthe student'sproblemreallyis(e.g.academic,personal,medical,financial, etc.)andthenmustmodifyoradapttheadvicegiventoensureresolution ofthatproblem. ]2 7.ServiceDelivery Level351Points (5)Conclusion Thegrievancesareallowed. Fromtheevidenceputbeforeme,!haveconcludedthattheStudent SuccessSpecialistpositionshouldbeevaluatedatPayband"H",529points. IhaveattachedacompletedArbitrationDataSheet. Iremainseizedtodealwithanyissuewhichmayariseinthe implementationofthisDecision. DatedattheCityofSt.Thomasthis(yf(day of 0L,4L(,2013. //ProfesSorlanA.Hunter _bitrator ArbitrationDataSheet-SupportStaffClassification College: CurrentPayband:F 1. Supervisors:LisaTaylor&PeterFortura Steward:ChristineKelsey 54454454 1A.Education4 lB.Education1 2.Experience4 3.Analysisand ProblemSolving3 4.Planning/ Coordinating2 5.Guiding/ AdvisingOthers3 6.Independence ofAction3 7.ServiceDelivery2 8.Communication3 9.PhysicalEffort1 10.Audio/VisualEffort2 11.Working Environment1 Subtotals(a) TotalPoints(a)+(b) ResultingPayband Incumbents:NastiaTouhlova&JanetStrickland PaybandRequestedbyGrievors:H ConcerningtheattachedPositionDescriptionForm: __Thepartiesagreedonthecontents TheattachedWrittenSubmissionisfrom: Mana.qement . Factor __TheUniondisagreeswiththecontents andthespecificdetailsareattached, __TheUnion__TheCollege UnionArbitrator Regular/ Recurring. LevelPoints 48448448 3 Regular/Regular/ OccasionalRecurringOccasionalRecurringOccasionalLevelPointsLevelPointsLevelPointsLevelPointsLevelPoints 784110378 32372323723237 29441441 7849378 293635! 7849378 515 20220 3 4 6 9 3 3 3 1 2 784 5! 784 5 20 9 72917 461(b)40(a)527 501558 GH 2 (b) 9 3I I7 (a)495 529 H 29 (b)34