The Communiqué: Volume 46, No. 22 August 16, 2024

This Issue:

  • Meet Your New Officers: Anil Varughese, Chair, Grievance Policy & Administration
  • CUASA is seeking new Grievance Committee Representatives
  • Join CUASA at Pride Events, August 23, 24 & 25
  • Save the date: Labour Day March and Picnic, September 2
  • Call for Nominations for CAUT Lee Lorch Award: deadline August 31
  • 2024 OFL/AIL Jack Layton Labour Post-Secondary Scholarship: deadline September 10
  • Updates from OCUFA and CAUT
  • Get involved: Volunteer Opportunities at CUASA

Meet Your New Officers:

Anil Varughese, Chair, Grievance Policy & Administration

Over the Summer, we will introduce the new members of CUASA’s Steering Committee, who began their mandate on July 1, 2024. In this update, we’d like to introduce Anil, who will be the Chair, Grievance Policy & Administration.

Anil is Associate Professor at the School of Public Policy and Administration. One facet of his research focusses on the role of political parties and labor unions in advancing socio-economic equity in the developing world. He has been an engaged member of CUASA, serving on a number of CUASA bodies, such as the CUASA Council, Collective Bargaining Committee, and the Negotiating Team.

As Chair, Grievance Policy & Administration, he is dedicated to ensuring Carleton University remains a fair, welcoming, and caring workplace for all persons.

Welcome, Anil!


CUASA is seeking new Grievance Committee Representatives

The Grievance Policy and Administration Committee is responsible for developing Association policy on grievance handling, working with CUASA staff on administration of grievances, presenting grievances and making recommendations on arbitration to Council. The Committee is chaired by CUASA’s Chair, Grievance Policy and Administration; it meets monthly for 90 minutes, and its work is supported the two Grievance and Arbitration Officers.

If you are interested in becoming a committee member please contact CUASA’s Executive Director Jaye Horton at [email protected].


See you at Pride! Join CUASA at Events, August 23, 24 & 25

CUASA is taking part in the Capital Pride Parade on Sunday August 25th as part of the Ottawa Labour Council group. We will be joined by the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa. The parade will run from 1pm to 4pm and begins at Elgin Street and Laurier Street.

We are also going to be at:

Ottawa Trans March, Friday August 23rd, 6 pm  at the corner of Bank and Gladstone, and from there it will wend its way through Centretown.

Ottawa Dyke March & Rally, Saturday August 24th,1 pm at Minto Park.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!


Save the date: Labour Day March Picnic, September 2

Save the date for the Ottawa and District Labour Council (ODLC) Labour Day 2024 march and picnic!

The March begin at 12:00pm, starting at Elgin and Lisgar Streets (by Ottawa City Hall) and going to McNabb Park. The picnic will run from 1:00-4:00pm at McNabb Park (corner of Bronson and Gladstone Avenues).

Come join this free day of family fun and celebration for all, including a barbecue, live music, face painting, and a moon bounce.


Call for Nominations for CAUT Lee Lorch Award

CAUT is soliciting nominations for the 2024-25 CAUT Lee Lorch Award. The CAUT Lee Lorch Award recognizes academics whose work has meaningfully advanced the values of post-secondary education, strengthened academic labour rights, and fostered intellectual engagement among students, peers, and the public. Nominations for the Award may be submitted by individuals, member associations or others. The deadline for nominations is August 31, 2024. The nomination form and procedures are available on the CAUT website. If you would like CUASA to help with the application, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.


2024 OFL/AIL Jack Layton Labour Post-Secondary Scholarship

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) will once again be giving out the OFL/AIL Jack Layton Labour Post-Secondary Scholarship in partnership with American Income Life (AIL) Canada.

Two OFL members (which all CUASA members are), or the children of members, will be selected from a pool of applicants to each receive a scholarship in the amount of $2,500 to support them as they enter their first year of full-time post-secondary study in September 2024. The scholarships will be awarded in honour of distinguished trade union activists who have made a significant contribution to the life and growth of the labour movement in Ontario.

For eligibility and criteria, please see the application package. The deadline to apply is September 10, 2024.


Updates from OCUFA and CAUT

CAUT urges York U to negotiate fair deal with academic staff association

(Ottawa – August 8, 2024) The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is calling on the York University administration to negotiate in good faith with the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) to avoid a strike or lock-out.

YUFA says the York administration has been impeding talks by misrepresenting the union’s proposals.

CAUT urges its members to sign and circulate the YUFA petition calling for the university administration to stop its aggressive moves and bargain in good faith with […]

Read the full update from CAUT

YUFA News


Get involved: Volunteer Opportunities at CUASA

The Association is as strong as its membership, so we count on the time, ideas and commitment of members to achieve and update CUASA’s goals. If you’d like to contribute to CUASA’s work and positions, here are some ways you can help:

… join the CUASA Steering Committee

We are still accepting nominations for the following positions (click on the position title to view the description):

Chair, Nominations and Elections

All nominations must be made using the form found here. All nomination forms must include the signatures of the nominee and two Association members as nominators. Please send completed forms to [email protected].

… serve as a member of Anti-Racism Working Group
This Working Group is open to any CUASA member interested in addressing the issue of racism at Carleton. It usually meets once a month during the academic year.

join one of our Caucus Groups

CUASA’s 2SLBGTQIA+ Pride Caucus and Disability Caucus are now meeting regularly, and we are happy to welcome new members. These caucus groups are intended to be a way for people from equity-seeking groups to find community connections, socialize, organize, support one another, and share ideas with each other and with CUASA. These groups usually meet once a month.

For more information, or to volunteer for any of these positions, please contact the CUASA Office at [email protected]. If you are interested in participating in a caucus group, please contact our Equity and Member Services Officer, Max López, at [email protected] for more details.

The Communiqué is published by the Carleton University Academic Staff Association. Past issues are archived on our website at CUASA.ca. The Communiqué publishes CUASA-related news and information for our members.

We want to hear from you! Get in touch, by email, social media, phone, or by scheduling a meeting. We read everything you send, and thank all of those who have contributed suggestions.

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