PSRC Meeting
Present: Stu Austen (Chair), John Drozdoff, Jennifer Kaban, Niki Martin, Brenda Morrey, Colin Morton, Mike Mouat and Doug Preddy
Absent: Curtis Ballard
1.Science Division Head Search
It is felt that the announcement and distribution of agenda etc. should have been more widely distributed.
2. HR & Newsletter/HR Update
The HR Update Newsletter encourages feedback, yet includes mention of receiving “lovely, derogatory remarks”. Some P&S have reported giving feedback to HR and receiving rude responses. The HR Update Newsletter is an informal document yet sometimes includes very important information, but the general feeling of the HR Update Newsletter recently is bad and in contributing to “goodwill” decreasing. Perhaps the HR Update Newsletter should be edited by someone outside of HR or at least by Jim Hanlon.
3. Pay Parking
The question was raised whether Pay Parking is a taxable benefit? There have been a range of emotions presented to the PSRC regarding the pay parking coming into effect. A general feeling is that the information about the pay parking should have been distributed widely when management knew about it coming into effect (when the lease was signed). This also comes down to timing – Pay Parking + Federal Budget = No Cost of Living Increase = Bad Feelings all around. Management needs to figure out the pay scales for parking as soon as possible. Information should be made available as soon as possible. Questions were raised regarding how much does UBC pay and what about multiple vehicles?
4. Survey
It was felt that there was a major flaw in timing, ie. cutting social programs as the survey is being conducted asking for feedback regarding social programs (Why bother asking if the employees feedback aren’t going to be taken into consideration?). General feedback regarding social programs was that “goodwill” is worth more than the minimal monetary gains. The questions was raised about where will the survey results will go to, ie. SMM or the BOM?
5. Memo to Management
We would like to send a memo to Nigel regarding concerns about morale and goodwill regarding communication, that we want to see the raw results of the survey for P&S, and that we would like quarterly meetings with Nigel.
6. AOB
There is a push to reduce OT, various concerns about this from the PSRC.
There was discussion regarding P&S with pagers that run on “goodwill”, concerns about compensation regarding being “on-call” at all times with a pager.
Regular PSRC meetings – monthly meetings (3rd Thursday at 14:00 each month), general feeling that the PSRC’s input isn’t valued right now, monthly meetings to correct this.
NM to send out minutes and perhaps make a summary of the meetings to post on the web.