Keeping the YOU-FA out of UWFA

By Tracy Whalen, Communications Officer

The research behind UWFA’s new logo design included a survey of how closely the logos of other Canadian faculty associations resemble those of their related institutions. What does a logo say about an association’s identity and how closely does a faculty association align visually with its university? It was a fascinating overview. Here, for example, is UWFA’s previous logo—a simple wordmark rendered in The University of Winnipeg branded colours—alongside the University of Winnipeg logo. The common typeface and colour suggest, as graphic designer Josh Dudych notes, that “UWFA’s brand and identity … is closely associate[d] with U of W’s.”

Click to read more ...

"Are We Going on Strike?" and Other RAS Questions

By Lisa McGifford, UWFA Executive Director, and Pauline Pearson, UWFA President

When does the current collective agreement expire?
The Regular Academic Staff (RAS) collective agreement is set to expire on March 31, 2013.

When will we start bargaining?
Bargaining will start after one of the parties gives notice to the other that it is ready to commence collective bargaining. The earliest date when notice can be served is January 1, 2013 and the latest that such notice can be served by one of the parties is March 1, 2013. We will go to the table at a mutually agreed time and ideally will meet on a regular basis thereafter.

Click to read more ...

Announcement: Harry Crowe Foundation Conference

Harry Crowe Foundation Conference
February 1-3, 2013
Toronto
The Limits of Academic Freedom

UWFA is sending a delegate to the Harry Crowe Foundation Conference in Toronto at the end of the month. The theme of this year’s conference is the limits of academic freedom. Through a series of panel discussions the conference will explore the question of what are the limits of academic freedom. Panel presenters include: Len Findlay, Patrick Deane, Gerald Gerbrandt, John Wiens, Leslie Green, Angela Regnier and James Turk. A full report will be published in the next newsletter.