We have been contacted of late by faculty who have expressed concern about PD they have been directed to take by their respective managers.
Please be aware of your rights under the Collective Agreement with respect to PD: Article 11.01 H
11.01 H1: The College shall allow each teacher at least ten working days of professional development in each academic year.
11.01 H2 Un -less otherwise agreed between the teacher and the supervisor, the allowance of ten days shall include one period of at least five consecutive working days for professional development.
11.01 H3 The arrangements for such professional development shall be made following discussion between the supervisor and the teacher subject to agreement between the supervisor and the teacher, and such agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The intention of PD is that it is faculty driven. If the college offers a PD opportunity, and the faculty member wishes to take it of his or her own choosing,there is no issue.
However, an issue arises when faculty are told to take certain PD. It is no longer faculty driven when it is mandated by the College. The union argues that is no longer PD but assigned work. The option then is for faculty, who do not wish to use up their PD entitlement to do college directed PD, to insist that the college directed PD be acknowledged as assigned work. The significance is that the work must then be noted on your SWF as additional complementary functions on an hour-for hour basis, and your SWF would have to be reviewed to reflect the added activity.
If you have any questions on the matter, please contact the union office at 7716.