Recommendations

As stated above, despite a brief period of inactivity, PSCEE has renewed its commitment to the work of employment equity at Western. To assist in moving forward in 2001 in a positive and meaningful manner, the Committee has several recommendations it wishes to make.

1. Policy Update

The confirmation of Western's commitment to the principles of employment equity is embodied in the Employment Equity Program, MAPP 3.2. In fact, it is this policy that gives this Committee its form and mandate. However, this policy dates back to November, 1988, a time when the landscape of Western's employment was very different than it is today. Since that time, for example, there has been an increase in the unionization of employee groups on campus, and titles and offices have changed.

This Committee believes it is time for Western as a whole to reaffirm its commitment to employment equity. To begin this process, it is our recommendation that the policy be updated and reaffirmed. We would recommend that the revisions contain a strong statement reaffirming the principles to which Western is committed and reflect the change in unionization and structure that has taken place over the past twelve years. We would recommend that the Committee's membership now be as follows:

One representative appointed by each of the following:

UWOFA
UWOSA
UWO-GTA Union
Physical Plant - CUPE Local 2361
Food Services - CUPE Local 2692
Police - UWOPA
Operating Engineers IUOE Local 772
SAGE

The Associate Vice-President (Human Resources)
The Vice-Provost
The Vice-President (Administration)
The Director, Equity Services


Six persons appointed by the President: four who will act as representatives of the designated groups covered under the Federal Contractors Program, and two who deal with matters related to part-time employment at the University.

2. Committee Reconstitution

Once the policy has been updated, we would recommend that this Committee be reconstituted to reflect the revised policy. With the reconstituted Committee in place, it would be our recommendation that it set priorities for the coming year. One such priority that we foresee is the need to review and revise Western's Employment Equity Work Plan, which would necessitate a more detailed examination of the census data. We set out below our recommendation for how the Committee might proceed with this task.

3. Subcommittees

We believe there is a great interest among some members of the Western community to assist with the work of PSCEE. It is our recommendation, therefore, that the Committee create four separate subcommittees, one representing each of the designated groups, whose membership would include such interested members of the community.

It is our recommendation that each subcommittee be chaired by the President's appointee to PSCEE for that designated group. Each of the subcommittees would report to PSCEE, and would be given the mandate by PSCEE to review the status of employment equity efforts and results at Western as these pertain to their particular group. To accomplish this, each subcommittee should be asked in particular to analyze and review the six objectives set out in Western's Employment Equity Work Plan, as well as the census data. Subcommittees should also be examining hiring, promotion and training opportunities, as well as terminations. It is our recommendation that the subcommittees each prepare annual reports to be submitted to PSCEE, the first of which we recommend be submitted in January, 2002. Although this does not give the subcommittees a great deal of time, it would allow them to report the preliminary results of their work and to begin the process of revising the Employment Equity Work Plan.

4. Release of this Report

Finally, in keeping with The Employment Equity Program, we recommend that the President release this report to the Western community.