By Michael Hohner

Let’s start wayback (thanks to the Archive.org Wayback machine) when the ink was just drying on the previous UWFA Collective Agreement and move forward to the present with some keen commentary along the way…

http://web.archive.org/web/20020607150035/www.uwinnipeg.ca/web/faculty/admin/index.shtml

…Ah, the simple days when we had about 1/4 less students and half as many VPs. AVPs were almost unheard of and FIPPA and even Human Rights had prominence on the main Administration home page.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040701230905/www.uwinnipeg.ca/web/faculty/admin/index.shtml

A new President and one more VP added.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050205231657/www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/admin-index

Another VP…are they breeding or have we discovered cloning?

http://web.archive.org/web/20051229185753/www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/admin-index

AVPs? …and many Deans, oh my! A detailed org chart and the rationale behind the reorgs that have already occurred and will continue.

http://web.archive.org/web/20060922235842/www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/admin-index

A changing of the old guard for many new names and faces. Many more actors are “acting” as this plot thickens. Did someone mention something about FIPPA missing from the page? Let’s add a Corporate Secretary & General Counsel. Well we’re at it, let’s take a snap shot of University Committees -

http://web.archive.org/web/20060714042715/www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/committees-index

and see where things go on that front

http://web.archive.org/web/20061231080438/www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/committees-index

and perhaps wonder where the real decisions are being made.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070826071221/www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/admin-index

Welcome to the present! Another Dean…More admin units represented…A couple colleges. Are we feeling a bit top heavy or have the Faculty foot soldiers done reasonably well with this [r]evolution?

So many and such dramatic changes in administration since 2002. How well does a 5 year old Collective Agreement hold up to such changes at the top? Grievances in terms of significance and number are possibly one indicator that may provide some perspective on that front, but we’ll also examine many other aspects of this [r]evolution at the top in upcoming newsletters.

To: UWFA Membership

The UWFA has been in contact with both CAUT and Workplace Safety and Health regarding the current security situation at UW. Both groups have provided us with information respecting our obligations to our members and how best to ensure that the Administration is meeting its responsibilities to our members. Our conversations with CAUT have been helpful not only in terms of the situation at hand but also with regard to what we must undertake for the future. We also have been advised by the Administration that they have been in contact with the Assistant Deputy Minister of Labour, who is satisfied that they are taking appropriate measures for the safety of employees. By now you will have received notice of three “emergency preparedness meetings,” to be held tomorrow (Tuesday, September 25) in Convocation Hall from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. We appreciate this response by the Administration to UWFA’s request for safety training, and we encourage you to attend one of these sessions. Security measures notwithstanding, some of our members may feel uncomfortable being here on Wednesday. Although it is useful to make your intentions known sooner rather than later, the Administration has informed us that you still will be able to make a decision to remain off-campus that day even if you have not previously declared your intentions. If you decide not to come to the University, it would be useful to notify your Chair as soon as possible. The Administration has advised us that the rationale for asking everyone to advise their Chairs of their plans is so that the Administration can know who is here in the event that violence does occur. They regard notice to the Chair as a safety measure.

This situation has been trying and complex for everyone. At this point, UWFA is satisfied that the Administration has undertaken all the steps that it can to respond to the threat and to endeavor to preserve your safety. Please call or contact me with any questions or concerns.

Regards,

Lisa McGifford, Staff Officer
University of Winnipeg Faculty Association