TO ALL APUO MEMBERS
As per the last few years, new practices implemented in faculties regarding annual vacations and other absences from campus have created some confusion and problems for our members. It therefore seems necessary to clarify the issue in light of the relevant sections of our collective agreement.
Annual vacations
The collective agreement states, under section 28.1.5, that “A member may take vacation leave at any time(s) provided: (a) she notifies her dean in advance of each vacation period; (b) the vacation will not interfere with the member’s assigned duties as included in the member’s workload pursuant to article 22”, i.e. the article on workload.
There is therefore no problem in filling out a form to notify the dean in advance of the period during which the member will be on annual vacation. It needs to be understood that the goal is to inform the dean, not to ask for an authorization.
Absence from campus
Several APUO members have recently brought to our attention that many faculties are now demanding that any absence from campus has to be approved in writing and in advance by the Dean. In some cases, it is argued that this authorization is in accordance with article 28.4 (availability and authorized absence) of the collective agreement. This interpretation of article 28.4 is flawed.
Nowhere in this article (or anywhere else in the collective agreement) is there an obligation for members to make a written (or oral) request to the dean for an absence to perform her/his professorial duties, such as empirical investigations or research meetings, providing this absence does not interfere with her/his teaching activities (including the supervision of graduate students), or academic service activities (see specifically articles 28.4.3 and 28.4.4).
The collective agreement, in the same article, also stipulates that a member is not required to be on campus to fulfill her/his workload obligations, whenever another location is more appropriate and her/his absence does not interfere with teaching activities and academic service activities.
The right (not the obligation) of a member to request an authorized absence, as stipulated in article 28.4.6, only applies to extended leaves (of up to 60 calendar days and renewable), during a period when a member must have no obligations as described in 28.4.3 (a) and (c), no teaching activities, and no academic service activities. Unsurprisingly, this type of situation is extremely rare.
The member’s rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities shall remain unchanged during an authorized absence, apart from the added right to be absent without being subject to recall.
As a result, there is no obligation for a member to request an authorized absence with every travel arrangement. As long as the member makes sure, through the appropriate means, that her/his absence does not negatively impact her/his teaching activities and administrative responsibilities (see article 28.4.3), she/he is free to do so at her/his discretion.
The APUO filed an association grievance last year in regards to this article of the collective agreement. As of yet, the issue has not been resolved.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Sincerely,
The APUO Executive Committee.