The University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA) is a certified union recognized by the Ontario Labour Relations Act. We are the sole bargaining agent of Faculty, Librarians, Veterinarians, and College Professors at the University of Guelph. We are responsible for negotiating the terms and conditions of employment through Collective Agreements between the UGFA and the University Administration.
The early years
In 1964, the University of Guelph was formed by the amalgamation of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College, which moved from the University of Toronto. During that same time, the University of Guelph Faculty Association was formed.
In the late 1970’s, the faculty, believing that a formalization of faculty rights and privileges was required, voted to start negotiations on a Special Plan Agreement (SP). The UGFA finally concluded negotiations in 1983, and the SP Agreement document, which was outside of the Labour Relations Act, was approved by the faculty.
The SP Agreement formalized relations between the Association and the Administration for the first time. The negotiated agreement gave the UGFA official status as the representative of Faculty and Librarians regarding salaries, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.
In 1988, the UGFA was incorporated.
Unionization
In 2006, the UGFA Executive and Council decided that our relationship with the Administration had reached a significant transition point. With the overwhelming support of Council on April 6, 2006, a motion was passed “that Council approve an immediate card-signing drive, with a view to certification of UGFA.”
Within one month of the card-signing drive, we had support from more than 40% of our proposed Membership. On May 9, the Certification Application was filed with the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Voting took place on May 16, and on August 18, 2006, the Labour Relations Board certified UGFA as the bargaining agent of these University of Guelph groups: Faculty Members (including professional Librarians) and all persons employed as Veterinarians in the Animal Health Laboratory and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Negotiations for the first collective agreement began September 2006, and it was ratified on March 31, 2008, covering 2007 – June 30, 2011.
Ridgetown
In 1997, Ridgetown College became a regional campus of the University of Guelph. In March 2015, the UGFA began a card drive to represent the group as a second bargaining unit within the UGFA. The first Collective Agreement was signed January 27, 2016, and it was in effect until April 30, 2019.
UPP
The UGFA executive members were key contributors to the formation of the University Pension Plan (UPP). They were members of the UGFA University Pension Plan discussion group that was created in the spring of 2016 due to the solvency issues with the Professional Pension Plan of the University of Guelph.