Labour organizations ~~ Labour education ~~ JEDI resources ~~ Indigenization resources ~~ Precarious work ~~ Post-secondary employer associations
- BC Federation of Labour (BC Fed)
Represents over 500,000 workers from affliated unions across BC, with the slogan "What we want for ourselves, we want for all." The LFA is a member of the BC Fed through its affiliation with FPSE.
- Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT)
Represents 72,000 teachers, librarians, researchers, and other academic professionals at Canadian colleges and universities. The LFA is a member of CAUT through its affiliation with FPSE.
- Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
The largest labour organization in Canada, representing over 3 million workers through its affliates. The LFA is a member of the CLC through its affiliation with the BC Fed.
- Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 15
CUPE is Canada’s largest union, with 700,000 members, including in the post-secondary sector. Local 15 represents CUPE workers of Langara College, the Langara Students Union, and Chartwells/Langara College Cafeteria (each of the 3 groups has its own Collective Agreement).
See also CUPE National's resource pages: Post-Secondary Education and Aboriginal Issues & Research.
- Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE)
The provincial voice of 10,000 faculty and staff at BC’s teaching universities, colleges, and institutes. The LFA is member local 14 of FPSE.
- Living Wage for Families Campaign (LWFC)
Endorsed by the BC Federation of Labour and others, LWFC is BC-based campaign to end poverty. It certifies employers that pay a living wage to their staff and contractors, and advocates for complementary government policies. The LFA and other unions are among the over 200 Certified Living Wage Employers in BC.
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2
Union that runs Justice for Janitors organizing and bargaining drives for cleaning staff across BC and Canada, including Langara. For background see 2018 LFA postings on Cleaning Staff at Langara and Union Support for Cleaning Staff at Langara.
- Vancouver District Labour Council (VDLC)
Represents 60,000 workers from over 100 affiliated unions in our community. The LFA is a member of VDLC through its affiliation with FPSE.
- Anita Yam Memorial Labour Law Education Series - VDLC
Named "in recognition of an inspiring union organizer who died too young", the Vancouver District Labour Council (VDLC) offers a number of open, accessible, and affordable workshops every month on a range of topics. Taught by lawyers and advocates who work exclusively for unions and workers, or by activists and educators who are experts in their field. Held either online or at the Maritime Labour Centre in East Vancouver.
- CAUT Education & Training
On request from member locals, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) offers on-site and virtual workshops to assist local associations in building active and knowledgeable memberships.
- CLC Pacific Winter School
Every year in January and February, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Pacific Winter School offers a series of week-long training sessions on topics including Steward Level 1 and II, bargaining, and more. Offered virtually in 2021, prior to the pandemic the school was held in-person in Harrison Hot Springs.
- CLC Union Stewards Handbook
Updated online version of the handbook from the Canadian Congress (CLC). Includes useful information for stewards and union members about union work, with a focus on the principles of fairness and inclusion.
- LabourLawOnline.ca
Educational webinars and live conferences for unions and employers offered by the Centre For Labour-Management Development (Canada) Inc. The Annual Labour Law Review covers the year's top developments in BC and Canadian labour law for unions and unionized employers. The annual Accomodation Law series covers the past year's top legal developments in duty to accomodate.
- Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE)
A not-for-profit that offers responsible investment services, research and education, including pension plan management. Langara faculty are enrolled in the defined-benefit College Pension Plan (CPP). The LFA has a local rep on the FPSE Pension Advisory Committee, which in turn has reps on the CPP Board of Trustees.
- Western Summer Institute on Union Women (WSIUW)
One of 4 women's schools offered by the US-based United Association for Labour Education (UALE). FPSE offers 2 scholarships each year for applicants from its member locals (drawn by lottery). The WSIUW was cancelled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) resources
- BC Fed: Equity and Inclusion
Resource page for unions from the BC Federation of Labour.
- BC Nurses' Union (BCNU) Equity and Human Rights Caucus Groups
The BCNU has established a number of equity seeking groups and networks to further its equity and inclusion goals.
- BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF): Equity and Inclusion
A history of the BCTF's own initiatives, with links to tools and resources.
- Moving Beyond Diversity to Strengthen Unions: Towards Inclusion and Equity: A Leader's Guide (pdf, 36 pages)
Offers a variety of approaches and strategies. From the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.
- Unifor Equity Audit
A report on Unifor National's 2017 equity audit: Building Solidarity in Diversity.
Decolonization, Reconciliation and Indigenization resources
- BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
Passed in 2019 by the government of BC in order to bring it in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UNDRIP's purpose is to provide a mechanism to protect the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education, protection of traditional lands, as well as other issues. The government of Canada has also signed on to UNDRIP.
- FPSE Decolonization, Reconciliation & Indigenization Standing Committee (DRISC)
DRISC provides support and guidance to the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) and is composed of knowledgeable representatives from each FPSE local who are responsive and responsible to Indigenous Peoples’ goal of self-determination and well-being. The LFA is member local 14 of FPSE.
- Indigenization through collective bargaining: Lessons and ideas for academic staff associations
Jan 2021 article from Academic Matters: OCUFA’s Journal of Higher Education.
- Louie, D. W. (2019). Aligning Universities Requirements of Indigenous Academics with the Tools used to Evaluate Scholarly Performance and Grant Tenure and Promotion. Canadian Journal of Education, 42(3), 791-815.
Reports on barriers to indigenous scholars and offers practical recommendations to post-secondary employers and unions to address discrepencies and provide a supportive environment.
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Reports
In 2015, the TRC published its final report on the experiences and impacts of the residential school system. The TRC Calls to Action outline 94 actions to address the legacy of residential schools and to actively pursue reconciliation. Education Calls to Action #6-12 address the legacy of the residential school system and Calls #62-65 address Education for Reconciliation.
- Whose Land is it Anyway? A Manual for Decolonization
Free e-book inspired by a 2016 FPSE speaking tour by Arthur Manuel, less than a year before his untimely passing in January 2017. The book contains two essays from Manuel, described as the Nelson Mandela of Canada, and essays from renowned Indigenous writers Taiaiake Alfred, Glen Coulthard, Russell Diabo, Beverly Jacobs, Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Kanahus Manuel, Jeffrey McNeil-Seymour, Pamela Palmater, Shiri Pasternak, Nicole Schabus, Senator Murray Sinclair, and Sharon Venne. FPSE is honoured to support this publication.
Precarious work in post-secondary
- CAUT Fair Employment Week
CAUT’s annual campaign held in October to raise awareness and fight for fair working conditions for temporary academic workers ("precarious profs").
- Contract U:Contract faculty appointments at Canadian universities (Nov 1, 2018)
Report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) highlighting the rise of precarious work in the post-secondary sector. By 2016-17, contract jobs accounted for the majority (53.6 per cent) of all Canadian university faculty appointments.
- CUPE report on precarious work in the post-secondary sector (June 6, 2017)
A report based on town halls held across Canada, on the negative impacts of precarious work on students, workers, and the post-secondary system.
- FPSE Non-Regular Faculty Committee
A standing committee of FPSE that seeks to address job security and working conditions for temporary faculty across FPSE's member locals (the LFA is local 14).
Post-secondary government/institution/employer groups:
- BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training (AVST)
Leads and directs post-secondary education system in BC. See Institution Resources & Administration for links to budget and mandate letters and more.
- Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)
A national organization representing publicly supported colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics in Canada and internationally. Formerly the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. Langara College is a member.
- Labour Relations Board BC (LRB)
The LRB is an independent, administrative tribunal with the mandate to mediate and adjudicate employment and labour relations matters related to unionized workplaces.
- Public Section Employers' Association (PSEC) and Post Secondary Employers' Association (PSEA)
PSEC is overseen by the Minister of Finance and was established by the BC government to oversee labour relations, compensation, and human resource management across the public sector, including public sector bargaining.
PSEA is the employer bargaining agent for all public colleges, special-purpose teaching universities, and institutes in BC. It is one of 6 employers' associations that report to PSEC.
- Universities Canada
Non-profit university association, formerly known as the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.