Weekly Update – August 27, 2021
August 27, 2021
Weekly Update – August 27, 2021
CUASA Vaccine Survey
We wish to thank all our members for participating in the survey. We had a remarkable response rate and our members have indicated that this issue is very important for to them not just for professional but also personal reasons. We are actively reviewing the data now.
One thing is apparent to us on preliminary review, many of our members do not feel safe returning to campus now, even with current plans and a vaccine attestation policy in place, particularly one that won’t take effect until after some our members are required to return in-person this fall. In the absence of any clarity on what metrics the University will use to stop trying to expedite return to campus processes and based on what we know now about the Delta variant, CUASA is extremely concerned about the unnecessary risks currently being taken.
We also wish to assure our members who have vulnerable people under their care that we are taking seriously your comments and concerns about how any decision made about your workplace can affect the safety of your families and homes.
Please watch for more updates on the survey results.
Accessing Campus and cuScreen
We wish to remind CUASA members that in order to access campus, you must now use the cuScreenprotocols and complete the self-assessment each day before coming to campus.
When on campus, you will find QR location codes at the entrances to buildings, classrooms, offices and common spaces around campus. Using your smartphone camera, you can use the codes to check in to locations across campus where you will be spending at least 15 minutes.
If you do not have a smartphone, you can instead use a paper-based self-assessment and location log (found here) to document your location on campus.
Please reach out to [email protected] if you are experiencing any problems scanning QR location codes. You can also refer to the cuScreen FAQs.
COVID PPE Supplies
We were disappointed to note that the cost of COVID protocol items such as hand sanitizer are at still at departments’ expenses. We also noted in other messages that our members are being encouraged to bring their own classroom supplies to minimize communal use. Funding for such measures should be made available separately by the administration to support its return-to-campus plans. Any members who find that they are not being provided with enough safety supplies or PPE to work in-person and have to use their personal funds to help keep themselves safe should report this to CUASA.
Ratification Implementation Update
Now that the collective agreement has been ratified, the University administration is working on the implementation for the May 1, 2021, pay increases. We have been told that the pay increases will be fully implemented and paid on September 29. This includes the 1% ATB adjustment and the CDI (if eligible). The ATB and CDI adjustments will be retroactive to May 1, 2021.
CUASA Business
Vacant Steering Positions
We are still seeking volunteers for the following Steering positions (click on the title below to see the position description):
* The Steering committee has allocated a 0.5 course release for the Vice President position.
Information on the nominations process can be found on our How to Volunteer page. Remember that our Association is only as strong as its membership, so we count on the time and commitment of our members to achieve our goals. If you are interested in one of these positions and would like some information, or wish to nominate yourself or a colleague, please CUASA’s Chair, Nominations and Elections, Marylynn Steckley, at [email protected].
Call for Volunteers: JHSC
We are seeking one more CUASA volunteer to be one of the Association’s representatives on the University’s Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). If you are interested, please contact Marylynn Steckley at [email protected].
Labour Community Updates
Labour Day 2021
The Ottawa and District Labour Council has announced its Labour Day 2021 March. The theme being used by the Canadian Labour Congress for this year’s Labour Day “Workers Are The Recovery”. Join the ODLC on Monday, September 6 at 12pm. The March will begin at Ottawa City Hall (Elgin and Lisgar Sts.) and will adhere to social distancing and masks in line with Ottawa Public Health safety protocols.
