CUASA Update – September 2, 2022
September 2, 2022
CUASA Update – September 2, 2022
Labour Day Message and Office Closure
Please note the virtual CUASA Office will be closed for the Labour Day weekend as of 12:00pm today, and will reopen on Tuesday, September 6, at 9:00am.
This Labour Day, CUASA wants to thank all the workers that help to make the Carleton community what it is. From the faculty, librarians, and instructors to all the Carleton staff, union staff, and student workers, we support you. We are all reliant on each other and we recognize and support your efforts to create a better, more equitable workplace.
In solidarity,
The CUASA Team
Ottawa Labour Day March
The Ottawa Labour Council 2022 Labour Day March will be held on Monday, September 5, at 12:00pm.
The March will leave Ottawa City Hall (Lisgar Street side) at 12:00pm sharp. CUASA members wishing to participate in the march should arrive by 11:30am.
The March route will go from Lisgar Street to Elgin Street, south on Elgin Street to Somerset Street, west on Somerset Street to Bank Street, north on Bank Street to Laurier Avenue, east on Laurier Avenue ending at Ottawa City Hall (Laurier Avenue side).
The TSSA Inspectors members of OPSEU Local 546 currently on strike will be leading this year’s March. Everyone is asked to adhere to Ottawa Public Health pandemic guidelines/protocols.
Reminder: CUASA Fall 2022 Campus COVID Safety Survey
In case you missed it, we sent a survey invitation to members by email earlier this week. We would like to thank the over 275 members who have responded so far.
CUASA is strongly committed to ensuring that your rights as employees are honoured, including your right to a safe workplace. This Fall 2022 term, some Ontario universities will require all faculty, staff, students, and visitors on campus to demonstrate proof of COVID vaccinations and booster shots and/or to wear masks.
Carleton’s current Fall-term Return to Campus protocols do not require individuals to mask or demonstrate proof of vaccination in order to access campus and participate in Carleton activities in person: https://carleton.ca/covid19.
Answering our brief survey will help CUASA to make sure the University does everything reasonable to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our members.
The survey will be open until 4:30pm on Thursday, September 8. Members can find the link in their email (if you can’t find the link, please contact [email protected]).
CUASA thanks you for your help!
Air Quality on Campus
We have heard from several CUASA members who will be returning on campus that are worried about the quality of indoor air. Accordingly, we have assembled a brief document outlining the role of the Association on this important topic.
EDI Research Fund
As previously mentioned, the University has solicited feedback from CUASA on an upcoming Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Research Fund, which we shared with the membership to gain additional insights on how we can improve it. We would like to hear from eligible members who might be interested in applying for such a fund once released.
The document, as proposed by the University, can be found at this link: Carleton University Proposal – Creation of a Special Research Fund. We welcome your input and have provided a webform for feedback which can be found here: Feedback Form: EDI Research Fund.
Academic Community Updates
PSAC 77000 Ratifies New Collective Agreement
CUASA extends congratulations to PSAC 77000 (the Carleton University Postdoctoral Union), representing more than 100 postdoctoral fellows on campus, on the ratification of a new collective agreement.
Celebrating achievements of trade union movement: CAUT Labour Day Statement
This Labour Day, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) celebrates the many achievements and contributions of the trade union movement in Canada toward improving working conditions and advancing equity and human rights.
Read the full statement on CAUT.ca.
COVID-19 protocols – a mixed bag of approaches for the new academic year
As post-secondary institutions start a third pandemic-era school year, many academic staff associations are advocating for a return to COVID-19 safety protocols.
Read the full post on CAUT.ca.
August NewsWire: Record number of strikes this past spring, more to come? – Mixed approaches to COVID – The power of librarians & archivists
Every month CAUT sends a newsletter with the latest CAUT and post-secondary education sector news. In the August issue:
- A record number of strikes this past spring—more to come?
- COVID-19 protocols—a mixed bag of approaches for the new academic year
- LUFA calling for members to support proposed ‘plan of arrangement’
- Grad and postdoc students calling for a living wage
- Union opposes forced relocation of staff: Athabasca
- Report from the CAUT standing committee meetings
- ‘Together, we are stronger’: Kate Cushon, Chair, CAUT Librarians’ & Archivists’ Committee
- Upcoming Events
Job Posting: Community & Government Relations Policy Analyst
The OCUFA Team is seeking a Community and Government Relations Policy Analyst. This is a limited-term, full-time position based in downtown Toronto, Ontario, with the option of a weekly hybrid work arrangement. This position is being offered on a 12-month contract as a parental leave replacement.
See the full job posting on OCUFA’s website. Applications are due by 5:00pm on Friday, September 16.
Labour Community Updates
Labour Day: Worker power is key to a stronger middle class
From the Canadian Labour Congress:
“Canada’s unions are encouraging workers to reclaim their power and stand up to employers and governments, as the country struggles to recover from the economic turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘The pandemic and its devastating effects aren’t behind us yet, but workers in Canada have an opportunity to help shape the future we want,’ said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. ‘More and more workers are pushing back and demanding better: better wages, better benefits and better working conditions. This is our moment to seize, to shape the world of work we want.’”
