While the vast majority of disputes can be resolved informally or at local levels of the grievance procedure, there are occasions on which the Faculty Association has to take issues to a third party to be resolved. The resulting decisions have the force of law and bind both the University and the Association in future dealings.
Most frequently, we take these issues to a Labour Arbitrator appointed under the BC Labour Relations Code. Arbitration decisions are important because they interpret the provisions of the Collective Agreement and clarify the rights of our members. They set standards and models which hold for our members and which sometimes set precedents for other Canadian university faculty as well (the Bryson case is a good example).
In addition to arbitrations, the Faculty Association sometimes has to take matters to the courts, either to appeal an Arbitration decision or because the matter falls or may fall outside an Arbitrator’s jurisdiction. An example of this is the Faculty Association’s case at the BC Court of Appeal regarding the authority of the Senate to create policies which override our collective-agreement rights.
The following is a partial list of arbitrations and documents related to other legal proceedings handled by the Association since voluntary recognition under the BC Labour Code in 2000. For more information on these or any other rulings, please contact the Association.
The last type of legal proceeding in which the FA may become involved are Section 12 complaints filed by members at the BC Labour Relations Board. These complaints allege that the Union has not met its duty of fair representation. More information on these complaints is available at the end of the list below.
BETWEEN
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
(the “University”)
-and-
FACULTY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
(the “Faculty Association”)
(Lecturers Grievance)
Link to Decision
ARBITRATION
BETWEEN:
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
– and –
FACULTY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Concerning grievances over the Challenge to the Appointment of Associate Deans to Various
Committees
_________________________________________________________
AWARD
Initial Award – Associate Deans Appointed to Various Committees
Section 99 – Appeal for Decision Concerning the Appointment of Associate Deans to Various Committees – 18 November 2021
Labour Relations Board Decision on Section 99 – 14 August 2023
- Sessional Agreement Policy grievance, Award, September 12, 2018
- Sessional Agreement Policy Arbitration – February 2012
- Interest Arbitration Award – Glenn Sigurdson, September 2003
(Conditions of Appointment for Sessional Faculty)
- Humin Lin, Wei Xia, Tianming Li, Zhining Zheng & Terence Russell | Arbitration – Dalton Larson, August 2003
(Salaries, teaching, course credits)
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION
UNDER THE LABOUR RELATIONS CODE, RSBC 1996 c. 244
Between
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
(the “University”)
-and-
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION
(the “Faculty Association”)
( Steven Galloway Arbitration )
LINK TO SUPPLEMENTAL AWARD
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION
UNDER THE LABOUR RELATIONS CODE, RSBC 1996 c. 244
Between University of British Columbia and University of British Columbia Faculty Association
(Steven Galloway Arbitration)
Link to SUMMARY AWARD
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION UNDER THE LABOUR RELATIONS CODE, RSBC 1996, C.44
Between
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
(“UBC”)
-and-
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION
(the “FA)
(Career Progress for Length of Service)
ARBITRATOR: Greg Mullaly
COUNSEL: Michael A. Wagner for UBC
Kas Pavanantharajah for the FA
AWARD: March 8, 2018
Link to Consent Award
Labour Relations Code (Section 104 Appointment)
Link to ARBITRATION DECISION
(Re: Was Time Taken to Pay Retroactive Salary Increases Reasonable?)
Arbitration Board: James E. Dorsey, Q.C.
LRB Decision – G.J. Mullaly, February 2006
(University appeal under section 99 of the Labour Relations Code)
Arbitration – James Dorsey, February 2004
(University appeal under section 99 of the Labour Relations Code)
