News from NUGSS

Michael Watson
Sustainability Representative | NUGSS

he break has come to an end, and

hopefully most people got some well
deserved rest. The final stretch of this
semester will be busy, with schoolwork,
events, and celebrations.

Behind all the infrastructure, policies, and
politics, there are a lot of opportunities
and cool projects happening at UNBC.

My suggestion is to take advantage of
these opportunities while they exist.

NUGSS Elections are fast approaching!
Feel like your voice is not being heard?
Want to make a difference? This is one
opportunity that will aid you to do so.
There are many positions, but all of them
require dedicated people to fill them.

Through my terms, I have gained many
skills that cannot be taught in classrooms.

NUGSS is also participating in an organic
waste audit, set to happen through the
month of March. The Thirsty Moose Pub and
both Degrees coffee locations will have their
waste measured. Volunteers have already
signed up to help, but the more the merrier!
Please contact nugss-sustainability@unbc.
ca if you are interested in helping out!

I wish you all the best of luck in the
remaining few months and congratulations
to those who are graduating. Hopefully the
UNBC experience has found you well, and
will remain with you for years to come.

Cheers for now,

Michael Watson

The administration strikes back

Kelley Ware
Multimedia Coordinator

egotiations are ongoing, into the tenth

month, for a collective agreement
between the UNBC administration and the
faculty.

This lengthy timeline and the uncertainty
the strike mandate has caused have created
anxiety among the student body. Interim
Provost and Vice-President Academic

Dr. John Young hosted the February 12
information session that primarily focused
on the current state of negotiations, UNBC
as a public university in BC, and looking

forward before answering student questions.

The session began with a prepared
statement from President Daniel Weeks,
who unfortunately could not make it
due to the passing of his father.

There was only so much that UNBC’s
administration could share with the
students pertaining to the specifics of
negotiations and a potential strike. The
remainder of the articles yet to be agreed
upon are all on compensation. However, it
was also pointed out that UNBC recognizes
that a compensation gap exists, but not
just for the faculty. “Neither faculty
salary nor administrative stipends are as
competitive as we would like,” said Dr.
Mark Dale, Dean of Regional Programs.

An important thing that Dr. Young
wanted to get across to students was the
governance structure of UNBC; the Board
of Governors and the Senate are equally
important. They are responsible for
financial decisions and academic decisions
respectively. This dual-governance is an
unusual structure that is uncommon to
institutions outside of universities. In

addition to this structure, UNBC is a public
institution that is responsible to the Crown
and the citizens of BC. This means that,
among other things, they are governed
by the Labour Relations Code of BC Law.

The Government of BC approves the
negotiating mandate, and UNBC must follow
that mandate. However, if the administration
can find a way to increase compensation
that aligns with this mandate, Victoria will
cover the costs, rather than UNBC. With

that information, it may be prudent for
UNBC students to begin contacting the
Ministry of Advanced Education in addition
to the Senate and Board of Governors.

What was clear from the administration’s
side of the story is that UNBC wants to do
what they can to create a fair contract.
They recognized, much like the Faculty
Association recognized the week before,

UNC Life

Michael Watson
NUGSS

that the uncertainty of possible job action
is very unsettling. No one on either side

of the negotiating table wants job action.
“What happens at UNBC will not be decided
by the rumour mill,” said Dr. Young.

The senior administration is full of former
faculty that we see every day on campus.
These senior administrators are not trying
to screw over the current faculty; they are
people who are trying to work collectively
to find a fair settlement with the resources
available. They are also not giving up

hope that a settlement can be made.

“We are optimistic there are legitimate ways
to settle this [before a strike]; Dr. Young told
Over the Edge while attendees streamed out
of the Canfor Theatre. We hope he is right.