In my September 20th perspective I informed the membership about the successful outcome to a grievance that was filed concerning educational requirements in job postings. As I noted in the perspective, going forward other than in cases in which a specific registration, license or professional accreditation is a requirement of the job, York will consider educational equivalencies in assessing all job posting applications.

In early October YusApuY filed another grievance regarding the job posting process. This new grievance concerns years of experience requirements. In YusApuY’s view, York has an obligation to assess the quality of a job posting applicant’s experience, not simply rely on its arbitrary ‘rule’ regarding the required number of years of experience as outlined in a job posting. It should also be noted that this arbitrary ‘rule’ is not consistent within the university with different departments/faculties using their own arbitrary ‘rule’ as they see fit. As per the Collective Agreement, Article 12 – Job Posting, specifically Article 12.01(b), states that the Employer will make every effort to ensure that the hiring process is fair and reasonable. YusApuY does not believe how years of experience are currently dealt with in job postings are either fair or reasonable.

As a side note, since January we have resolved a total of 67 grievances.

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for this Thursday (October 26th) from 12 to 2 for Unit 1 and from 2:30 to 3:30 for Unit 2. Please note that both meetings will be held in Curtis Lecture Hall I.

The Ontario Academic Advising Professionals (OAAP) Conference is being held on the Keele campus on October 26th and 27th. For those of you attending the OAAP Conference please remember that as per Article 7.03 of the Unit 1 Collective Agreement, you are still entitled to a two-hour lunch period on October 26th in order to attend the AGM. Hopefully you will be able to arrange your schedules so that you will be able to attend the OAAP seminars that you want/wish to attend as well as attend the AGM. If you run into any difficulties, please contact the YusApuY office.

In December 2006 the end of mandatory retirement took effect in Ontario. With each passing year the number YusApuY members deciding to delay their retirement past the age of 65 is increasing. With this reality I believe it is important to bring a few pieces of information regarding benefit coverage to your attention.

Long Term Disability (LTD)

Currently there are no LTD benefits past the age of 65.

If you become ill or suffer an injury after the age of 65 and you have exhausted all your sick days, you will have the option of applying for sick benefits under Employment Insurance or you may go on an unpaid medical leave.

York Benefits

Your benefit coverage will continue past the age of 65 with a couple of changes, one to the drug benefits and the other to eye exams.

Once you reach the age of 65 the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program will activate. Under the ODB program there is a deductible that is charged but this deductible is covered by Sun Life. If you have family coverage and your spouse/significant other has continued to work past the age of 65, the deductible on their prescription drugs is also covered by Sun Life.

The Ontario government currently covers eye exams for those over the age of 65.