Frequently Asked Questions
General Membership Meeting and Pre-Bargaining Conference
As the Part-Time (PT) and Sessional (SL) Certification finalizes, we must provide our PT/SL faculty as much support as possible. This includes ensuring they have strong faculty in leadership positions for both bargaining and divisionally, as soon as possible. Therefore, we must ensure as many interested PT/SL faculty are duly elected at your General Membership Meeting, and able to attend their Pre-Bargaining Conference as Delegates and/or Alternates. (Note that all references to “Part-Time” or “PT” refers to all members in the PT Unit, which includes all sessional faculty)
Who can run as a PT Delegate or Alternate?
Any member who is PT or SL in Winter 2025 and/or Spring 2025 can stand as a PT delegate or alternate in the upcoming General Membership Meeting elections.
How many PT delegate positions are available?
To promote inclusivity and participation, for the upcoming PT Divisional Meeting (June 19-20, 2025), the number of PT and SL members from your Local’s Winter 2025 27.12 list should be used. Based on this number, we follow the Convention formula for delegate allocation. You also have the same number of alternate positions available.
If you have faculty who do not appear on your 27.12 lists, but can prove their status with a contract or timetable, they are also eligible to participate in your General Membership Meeting, as well as count toward your membership size for delegate/alternate positions.
Note: The delegate count for the FT Divisional is based on your Local’s OPSEU Membership List as of December 31, 2024.
What if a candidate is no longer PT at the time of the election?
As long as the member is PT in either Winter or Spring/Summer 2025, they are eligible to run for a PT delegate or alternate position at your General Membership Meeting.
How is quorum calculated at the GMM?
Quorum is based on the number of signed members. At this point, the number of signatures obtained in the PT Unit is negligible. Therefore, the quorum formula applied to the FT Unit shall suffice.
Can Partial-Load (PL) members run for PT delegate positions?
Only if they were PT or SL in either Winter or Spring 2025.
Who can vote at the GMM?
Only signed PT Unit members can vote on PT-related union matters. New members can sign an electronic membership form on the same day as your General Membership Meeting: https://opseu.org/information/tools-and-resources/ema/263698/
Who can nominate PT delegates?
Only signed PT unit members can nominate candidates. PT members may also self-nominate. New members can sign an electronic membership form on the same day as your General Membership Meeting: https://opseu.org/information/tools-and-resources/ema/263698/
Do PT members need to be signed members to nominate or be nominated?
Yes. However, they can submit an electronic membership form, even on the day of the meeting.
What voting software can be used?
OPSEU provides access to Simply Voting (at no cost to the local). If the local wants to use the software at their General Membership Meeting, please contact your staff representative as soon as possible.
When is the PT Pre-Bargaining Conference?
The PT Pre-Bargaining Conference is scheduled for June 19-20, 2025. Both in-person (Toronto, near Pearson Airport) and virtual attendance options are available.
Is there any compensation for PT Delegates to participate in union business?
OPSEU is currently reviewing its “Own Wages” policy to determine how it can be adjusted to better serve the Division’s needs.
Can any PT Delegates who attend the Pre-Bargaining Conference stand for a position on the Bargaining Team, and/or the Divisional Executive?
Not necessarily; although OPSEU is able to cast a wide net to ensure maximum participation following the democratic process (with respect to electing delegates/alternates at Local General Membership Meetings), there may be other factors to consider, in relation to Bargaining Team and Divisional Executive elections.
How many members will be elected to the Bargaining Team?
A 7-person team is expected to be elected, in addition to 14 alternate positions.
How many members will be elected to the Divisional Executive?
A 5-person team is expected to be elected, in addition to 10 alternate positions.
General Questions
When were the ballot boxes finally opened and counted?
The ballot boxes were opened and counted on April 11, 2025. The certification award was officially award April 16, 2025.
When do PT members start paying union dues?
Dues will be payable only after the collective agreement has been ratified.
Will PT members have the same collective agreement as Partial-Load and Full-Time members?
No. The PT Unit will negotiate its own separate collective agreement, distinct from the existing FT Unit’s collective agreement.
Can members opt out of being unionized?
No. Just like in the Full-Time Unit, all members within the PT Unit are unionized.
How will OPSEU representation benefit PT faculty?
Unionization has led to significant benefits for the Full-Time Unit, including:
- Greater job protection
- Health benefits
- Paid sick days
- Higher wages
These advantages will continue to improve through each round of bargaining.
What happens if a member belongs to multiple Locals?
All college faculty are unionized under OPSEU/SEFPO. Members belonging to multiple Locals will receive union protection at all Locals where they are members. They will maintain the same union ID with OPSEU/SEFPO.
What if a member moves from PT to Partial-Load, or does not receive an assignment for a semester?
OPSEU/SEFPO classifies precarious faculty as “seasonal” workers, meaning that all members will retain their union membership status for one year after their last dues payment.
Do unionized members automatically receive paid sick days and other benefits?
No. Benefits are determined through negotiations in the collective agreement. Nothing is automatically granted upon certification.
Are administrators who also teach part-time included in the PT Unit?
No. The CCBA explicitly excludes those holding a chair, department head, or higher managerial position from the PT Unit.
If a manager is teaching but cannot be considered as a member of the PT/SL unit does this mean they
are no longer able to teach?
In the interim, this situation will probably be left as a gray area, and an agreement will likely have to be reached through bargaining.
Can facilitators be considered in the PT/SL unit?
It depends; the job title itself does not dictate their status into the Bargaining Unit. If you have concerns about facilitators (or any other job title) that you feel should be part of the PT Unit, please contact your Grievance Officer to discuss further.
How will the strike fund work when there are two different Collective Agreements?
The FT and PT Units will negotiate their own contracts, and as such, bargaining timelines will also vary. If the Local decides to hold a Contingency Fund (aka Strike Fund), it will be up to the Local to decide what that looks like. Such decisions must be approved at a General Membership Meeting with at least a 67% vote.
How will we count delegate status for both units in one local?
For events that are specific to a Division (such as the Divisional Meeting, or Pre-Bargaining Conference), the number of delegates is based on the number of signed members in the Unit. The number of delegates is then determined following the Convention Formula (below). For events that pertain to the entire Local (like Convention and Regional Meetings), the number of delegates is based on the number of signed members in the Local. Similarly, the number of delegates is based on the Convention Formula (Article 13.04 of the Constitution):
- Up to 150 Members 1 delegate
- 151 to 300 Members 2 delegates
- 301 to 500 Members 3 delegates
- 501 to 800 Members 4 delegates
- 801 to 1100 Members 5 delegates
- 1101 to 1500 Members 6 delegates
- 1501 to 1900 Members 7 delegates
- 1901 to 2300 Members 8 delegates
- 2301 or more Members 9 delegates
Each local can also elect an equal number of alternates.
Final Notes
If you have further questions, please reach out to the DivEx at divexcaata@gmail.com. Thank you for your engagement and participation in shaping the future of PT faculty representation!