Tuesday, May 30, 2023 Welcome TWU Faculty! After a long and often difficult journey, faculty members at Trinity Western University (TWU) in Langley, BC, have been certified to form a union Guide magazine By Kevin Kohut, BC Director For the faculty at TWU, the trek to unionize began 10 years ago when a certification vote fell just four percent shy of a majority. The recent successful certification is the result of a lengthy process that began in October 2021 when the faculty filed their second application for certification. The university challenged the appropriateness of the bargaining unit description. A representation vote was held but not counted, and the first submission cycle before the British Columbia Labour Relations Board on bargaining unit appropriateness occurred between October 21 and November 21, 2021. Over the next 12 months, three additional hearings took place at the board. Finally, on March 10, 2023, the decision was issued. The board counted the vote from October 2021, with the result that 64 percent of faculty had voted in favour of the union! This is a great result, notwithstanding the longest delay between a vote and count that we’ve ever experienced. The emotional impact of the result was immediate. In 25 years as a representative, I’ve never seen the outpouring of emotion that the decision evoked in the representatives who worked tirelessly in support of the faculty. It was apparent how important this was to them. Comments from faculty members reflected a palpable sense of relief and hopefulness now that the union had been formed. Some faculty members have been struggling with issues related to mental health and workload, and they are eager to work with the university administration to address these concerns in a meaningful way. It is important to note that the faculty members are not looking to run the university. They simply want to have a meaningful voice in the decision-making process. They believe this will help create a more positive work environment, which will in turn benefit students. While compensation, retirement, and benefits are important issues, the primary drivers for unionization include accountability, transparency, structure, and clarity of processes, as well as the need for agency and voice. The faculty chose CLAC as their union for numerous reasons, one of the most important being our progressive and cooperative approach. The organizers and many of those who supported the union are long term, highly invested faculty who care deeply about the university’s success. They aren’t seeking a militant approach or solution to problems. They want to work collaboratively with the university under a framework based on mutual respect, good faith, and constructive dialogue. Additionally, CLAC brings expertise and resources, such as legal support and research, professional representation, and benefits and retirement experts. These resources are important for faculty who have, until now, tried to navigate the complexities of their employment conditions on their own. Now that the union has been formed, we have already begun meeting with faculty and senior university representatives. We are excited to work collaboratively to address concerns, and we are hopeful that this will create a more positive environment for everyone—students, faculty, and university administration. You might be interested in Define Your Role to Define Your Success 14 Feb 2025 Maplecrest Employees Secure Retroactive Wage Increases with New Two-Year Contract 13 Feb 2025 Liftsafe Engineering Employees Overwhelmingly Ratify New Agreement 11 Feb 2025 School Bus Drivers In Fort Nelson, BC, Unanimously Ratify New Contract 11 Feb 2025