Former Fanshawe teacher expresses concern over part-time rights
Part-time teachers in Ontario want the same rights as teachers across the nation.
Denis Meloche, a former part-time teacher for labour relations courses at Fanshawe College, felt he was treated unfairly during his time at the college, which spanned from the winter semester of 2003 to the winter semester of 2005.
Meloche expressed concern over three key areas, lack of job security, low wage, and no benefits.
“The biggest negative is the lack of security, there is no way of knowing whether you are going to be back from semester to semester,” Meloche said.
“The hourly rate in front of the class is very low, and part-time teachers are not compensated for hours put-in outside of the classroom. For every hour of class time I was probably putting in two to three extra hours in when considering planning, marking, and preparation. It was basically just expected of us and the system definitely takes advantage of it.”
In response to the concerns of Meloche, and similar cases of part-time workers regarding job security and compensation, Fanshawe College's Vice President of Academics, Joy Warkentin, said Fanshawe does all it can to satisfy their employees.
“It is very sporadic and not on-going by its very nature,” Warkentin said in regards to job security for part-time employees. “We have a range of salaries, which is clearly stated in the Collective Agreement, and we have raised our top tier of part-time employee salaries by 20 to 28 per cent. Preparation time and marking are also assumed in the higher rate.”
Another major issue with part-time workers is the fact that they do not have the option to form a union. A source with the “I Believe in Fairness” campaign for part-time employee rights at Ontario colleges, who asked not to be identified publicly, said Ontario is lagging behind the other provinces in Canada regarding this issue.
When the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act was passed in 1975, the right for part-time employees to become unionized was not included. Excluding Ontario, institutions from every other province in Canada do have the right to unionize.
Meloche said the “I Believe in Fairness” campaign, which is organized by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, is not going to be influential enough to spark any changes despite their attempts at creating a petition as well.
“It is not sufficient,” Meloche said. “They need to get the full-time workers excited too, because their future jobs will be in jeopardy as well.”
Warkentin said changes to the act is a government issue and not that of the colleges.
“It is the legislation in Ontario not to allow unionization for part-time workers in colleges,” Warkentin said. “It would however have a big impact if the act was opened.”
Warkentin added that part-time employees are vital to the success of the college and treated with fairness and respect.
“Part-time workers are a very important part of the college and we try to treat them as fairly as possible,” Warkentin said.
“Many part-time teachers are very connected with the various industries in the community and many part-time teachers bring skills and knowledge to their program, enhancing learning opportunities for students.”
Expectations of full-time and part-time workers are not the same according to Warkentin, but she also said that programs are in place for the part-time workers to help improve their quality of teaching.
“Part-time is not the same as full-time, expectations for full-time employees go beyond, into curriculum development, committee work, and student development programs,” Warkentin said. “We do have developmental and teaching courses available to all faculty and the part-time workers are encouraged to attend as well.”
Meloche said he felt many unhappy part-time workers, who need part-time positions to help enhance their careers, are afraid to express themselves because of the threat of becoming black-listed and not called back to teach.
“I've traveled across Ontario meeting with college part-timers,” Meloche said. “What I hear is a variation on a theme, and you don't hear the horror stories unless you ask, because most are afraid to speak out.”
Warkentin said she recommends that if part-time teachers have any issues with their work that they contact their faculty chairperson and express their concerns.
“The college is a place where magic happens,” Warkentin said.
“You can change peoples lives, and being a former part-time employee, I've been there, you get a foot in the door and an opportunity, and eventually a possibility for a full-time job.”
Denis Meloche, a former part-time teacher for labour relations courses at Fanshawe College, felt he was treated unfairly during his time at the college, which spanned from the winter semester of 2003 to the winter semester of 2005.
Meloche expressed concern over three key areas, lack of job security, low wage, and no benefits.
“The biggest negative is the lack of security, there is no way of knowing whether you are going to be back from semester to semester,” Meloche said.
“The hourly rate in front of the class is very low, and part-time teachers are not compensated for hours put-in outside of the classroom. For every hour of class time I was probably putting in two to three extra hours in when considering planning, marking, and preparation. It was basically just expected of us and the system definitely takes advantage of it.”
In response to the concerns of Meloche, and similar cases of part-time workers regarding job security and compensation, Fanshawe College's Vice President of Academics, Joy Warkentin, said Fanshawe does all it can to satisfy their employees.
“It is very sporadic and not on-going by its very nature,” Warkentin said in regards to job security for part-time employees. “We have a range of salaries, which is clearly stated in the Collective Agreement, and we have raised our top tier of part-time employee salaries by 20 to 28 per cent. Preparation time and marking are also assumed in the higher rate.”
Another major issue with part-time workers is the fact that they do not have the option to form a union. A source with the “I Believe in Fairness” campaign for part-time employee rights at Ontario colleges, who asked not to be identified publicly, said Ontario is lagging behind the other provinces in Canada regarding this issue.
When the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act was passed in 1975, the right for part-time employees to become unionized was not included. Excluding Ontario, institutions from every other province in Canada do have the right to unionize.
Meloche said the “I Believe in Fairness” campaign, which is organized by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, is not going to be influential enough to spark any changes despite their attempts at creating a petition as well.
“It is not sufficient,” Meloche said. “They need to get the full-time workers excited too, because their future jobs will be in jeopardy as well.”
Warkentin said changes to the act is a government issue and not that of the colleges.
“It is the legislation in Ontario not to allow unionization for part-time workers in colleges,” Warkentin said. “It would however have a big impact if the act was opened.”
Warkentin added that part-time employees are vital to the success of the college and treated with fairness and respect.
“Part-time workers are a very important part of the college and we try to treat them as fairly as possible,” Warkentin said.
“Many part-time teachers are very connected with the various industries in the community and many part-time teachers bring skills and knowledge to their program, enhancing learning opportunities for students.”
Expectations of full-time and part-time workers are not the same according to Warkentin, but she also said that programs are in place for the part-time workers to help improve their quality of teaching.
“Part-time is not the same as full-time, expectations for full-time employees go beyond, into curriculum development, committee work, and student development programs,” Warkentin said. “We do have developmental and teaching courses available to all faculty and the part-time workers are encouraged to attend as well.”
Meloche said he felt many unhappy part-time workers, who need part-time positions to help enhance their careers, are afraid to express themselves because of the threat of becoming black-listed and not called back to teach.
“I've traveled across Ontario meeting with college part-timers,” Meloche said. “What I hear is a variation on a theme, and you don't hear the horror stories unless you ask, because most are afraid to speak out.”
Warkentin said she recommends that if part-time teachers have any issues with their work that they contact their faculty chairperson and express their concerns.
“The college is a place where magic happens,” Warkentin said.
“You can change peoples lives, and being a former part-time employee, I've been there, you get a foot in the door and an opportunity, and eventually a possibility for a full-time job.”
