UWFA News 30th Anniversary Edition - April 2011

For a PDF copy of the print version of the UWFA News, click here.

 

The Communications Committee is proud to present the 30th Anniversary Edition of the UWFA News. In this issue, we take a look back at our history and explore, from perspectives across the University, what one might like the University to be. Articles included in this issue of the UWFA News are: 

• Celebration and Reflection
• Taking a Look Back at the First Agreement
• Marching to Strike Headquarters
• Memories of a Picket Coordinator
• Historic Underfunding, Redressment and a Sense of Ourselves
• “The Sphere of the Sun,” or, The University I Would Like to See
• Pondering the Word Untenable
• A Steep Price for a Miracle
• Examining Privilege and Power
• And Another Thing… A Rant

For the online copy of The UWFA News, click here.

The UWFA News accepts submissions from UW Faculty Association members on issues of interest. Unless otherwise stated, the opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily of the Association or its Council.

UWFA News - December 2010

For a PDF copy of the print version of the UWFA News, click here.

 

In this issue of the UWFA News:

• Message from the President
• Why Are We Called Flying Pickets When I Just Spent Six Hours Walking?
• Job Action Committee
• The University as One Might Like It
• Open Letter to Senate
• When Does the Main Unit Agreement Expire?
• Casualization, Rationalization and Other Realizations
• Chronochroma 6, A Site Specific Installation by Rodney LaTourelle
• Bowling for Academic Freedom

For the online copy of The UWFA News, click here.

The UWFA News accepts submissions from UW Faculty Association members on issues of interest. Unless otherwise stated, the opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily of the Association or its Executive Committee.

UWFA News - December 2010

Spence Street Festival

From August 23 to September 2, the UWSA and the University of Winnipeg are hosting the Spence Street Festival.

Local student musicians will perform, student artists will showcase and sell their work, the community garden will be open and accessible to volunteers, and the Graffiti Art Gallery will be commissioned to create UWSA and U of W specific work on site and to facilitate participatory art demonstrations.

Come to one or all of the fun events & activities throughout the week:

August 23 – 27 (12 – 1:30pm): Free yoga (in front of Sparling Hall)

August 30 – September 2 (12 – 1:30pm): Music, free food, art demonstrations by Graffiti Art Gallery, Poetry, UWSA Community Garden clean-up, basketball demonstrations by your Wesmen team, and much more!

Music by:
+ A Waste Odyssey [August 30] http://www.myspace.com/awasteodyssey
+ From Giants [August 31] http://www.myspace.com/fromgiants
+ Gordon Mack [September 1]
+ Sybil Vain [September 2]

This event is open to you, and students, faculty, staff, community members, and administration!

UWSA Spence Street Festival Information

The UWFA News - September 2009

In the September issue of the UWFA News, you’ll find a wide range of interesting articles including:

• A Message from the UWFA President;
• Updates on the Pension Plan, Collective Bargaining and the Scholarship and Bursary Fund;
• A Cautionary Tale from Thompson Rivers University;
• Pop Goes the Union (Unions in Pop Culture); and,
• Community May Not Extend Past Words at UW.

About The UWFA News

The UWFA News is published by the UWFA Communications Committee four times a year (September, November/December, February and May). If you would like to submit something to the next issue of The UWFA News, please email it to t.whalen@uwinnipeg.ca or uwfa@uwinnipeg.ca. We are always looking for submissions from our members.

If you have any questions, please direct them to uwfa@uwinnipeg.ca.

UWFA News - September 2009

CJOB Editorial on UWinnipeg Expansion Plans

Click below for an editorial published by CJOB on the recent financial crisis and the University’s continuing expansion plans.

CJOB Editorial on UW Expansion Plans

Security Update #2

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

Pension Plan Update #4

Positive developments on pension issue

Preparations are underway for talks between the U of W administration and the university unions to resolve the university’s pension deficit issue. The way was opened for these talks on March 2, when the administration tabled a proposal that moved beyond its previous proposals to increase contributions, change early retirement, and reduce cost-of-living provisions.

All parties have agreed that the current talks will be carried out in confidence.

The administration also agreed that the process of transition to a trusteed pension plan would commence with a meeting of the parties’ legal advisors. The fundamentals contained in the most recent draft of the proposed agreement (known as Draft 19) would be maintained, although the document would have to address any changes required by…

Pension Plan Update #4

Pension Plan Update #3

Should I Retire Now?

The U of W administration’s attempts to alter the cost of-living-allowance (COLA) provisions for pensioners have placed a number of U of W Faculty Association main-unit members in a difficult situation.

If the pension-plan provisions being proposed by the administration come into effect, these members would have to retire in 2007 if they wish to retain the current COLA benefit. Given there is a requirement to give six-months notice of retirement, UWFA main-unit members are faced with the prospect of having to announce their retirement very shortly if they wish to retire on August 31, 2007.

Pension Plan Update #3

Pension Plan Update #2

Fact-checking the Administration FAQ

The U of W administration has posted a FAQ regarding the pension solvency issue on its website. The campus unions have a number of concerns with the information on the website and will be addressing these issues over time. This week we want to draw attention to two statements, one having to do with the size of the pension deficit, the other having to do with the degree to which the administration has consulted with those who will be affected by its proposed changes to the pension plan.

Pension Plan Update #2

Pension Plan Update #1

UWFA takes court action to force U of W to implement 3-year-old pension agreement

The University of Winnipeg Faculty Association (UWFA) is asking the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench to require the University of Winnipeg implement a 2004 agreement to establish an independent board of trustees to govern the U of W pension fund. Under that agreement, the U of W would appoint half of the trustees, while various stakeholders would appoint the other half.

UWFA filed its application with the Court of Queen’s Bench on Friday, January 26, 2006. The Association of Employees Supporting Education Services (AESES) has initiated a similar legal action. All three unions whose members are part of the pension plan are working together on this issue.

Pension Plan Update #1