The Communiqué – December 18, 2019
December 18, 2019
In this issue:
CUASA Office Closure
Please note the CUASA Office will be closed from December 24 through January 2 inclusive. No services will be provided during this time. The office will reopen on Friday, January 3, 2020.
President Unit Visits
CUASA President Angelo Mingarelli has undertaken a series of unit visits. This gives him a chance to meet with members face-to-face, to let them know about the services that CUASA has to offer, and give them a chance to share any comments, issues, or concerns they wish to raise. Scheduling is well on the way for more visits next term. Please allow Angelo to visit your unit by contacting Liala at [email protected].
Last Call: President’s Survey
If you haven’t already, please take a moment to review our brief President’s Survey, which asks for your thoughts on what is or isn’t working for you as a member of this Association. Which questions you answer are entirely at your discretion, and we welcome any and all responses. You can access the survey here.
Vacant Steering Positions
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. The Collective Agreement recognizes CUASA work as Service in members’ annual reviews. CUASA may purchase teaching releases under Article 18.8(c), subject to budget availability, and application to/approval by the Steering committee.
The following Steering positions are currently vacant (click the title to see position descriptions):
- Instructor Representative (two-year term, 2019-2021)
- Treasurer (two-year term, 2019-2021)
- External Relations Officer (two-year term, 2019-2021)
- Communications Officer (two-year term, 2019-2021)
- Chair, Equity (two-year term, 2019-2021)
- Chair, Nominations and Elections (two-year term, 2019-2021; note that there is a 0.5 credit teaching release added for this term)
If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact the CUASA Office for a nomination form, either by dropping by 2003 Dunton Tower, or by emailing [email protected].
Women at the Bargaining Table
We want to thank everyone who came out for the inaugural screening of Women at the bargaining table. White-collar unionization at Carleton University. Based on CUASA Librarian Martha Attridge Bufton’s master’s thesis, the documentary tells the story of how academic and support staff at Carleton organized to form trade unions, efforts which were spearheaded by women.
In 2020, CUASA will celebrate 45 years as a certified trade union, and it was inspiring to see this documentary and hear from the incredible women who helped make Carleton amongst the first universities in the country to have white collar unions for both academic and support staff.
To learn more about Women at the Bargaining Table, and the inaugural screening event on campus, click here.
Ontario Unions Launch Charter Challenge of Bill 124
On Thursday, December 12, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), and the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) announced a legal challenge of Bill 124, the provincial government’s legislation which caps public sector wage increases.
According to a release by the Ontario Federation of Labour, “the unions contend that Bill 124 is a direct attack on free collective bargaining in the education sector, and a violation of sections 2(b) and 2(d) of the Charter, which guarantee freedom of expression and the freedom of association. In addition, the legislation violates the duty of the Crown to bargain in good faith.”
OCUFA has released a statement, saying, “It is unfortunate that this court challenge is necessary, but the Ford government has consistently rejected opportunities to lead constructive conversations about the future of education in Ontario.”
A second challenge, launched by a coalition of ten Ontario unions including CUPE, USW, COPE, and PSAC was announced on Tuesday, December 17.
CUASA stands in solidarity with the labour movement across the province as it mounts these challenges.
Read the full OFL release on the teachers’ unions challenge here, and on the coalition challenge here. Read the full OCUFA statement here.
Call for Committee Volunteers
The Collective Bargaining Committee is seeking one or two members from the Faculty of Public Affairs to join its ranks and help prepare for the next round of bargaining. For more information on the CBC, please see Bylaw 7 here.
We are also seeking volunteers for CUASA’s Internal Affairs Committee, as well as one volunteer for the Salary Adjustment Commission and one for the Joint Committee on Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
If you are interested in volunteering for any of these vacancies, please email [email protected].
|
CUASA Communiqué, December 18, 2019 The Communiqué is published by the Carleton University Academic Staff Association (CUASA), 2003 Dunton Tower, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Canada, K1S 5B6. Past issues are archived on the CUASA Web site at CUASA.ca. The Communiqué publishes CUASA-related news and information for our Members and provides Members with a forum to express their CUASA-related ideas and opinions. We want to hear from you! Please send your CUASA-related story ideas, news items, opinion pieces, letters, photographs, and other submissions to the CUASA Office at [email protected]. You can find CUASA’s Accessible Customer Service Policy here. |
