The Communiqué: Volume 46, No. 23 – August 30, 2024
In This Issue:
- CUASA Bargaining News
- Labour Day March and Picnic, September 2
- 2024 OFL/AIL Jack Layton Labour Post-Secondary Scholarship: deadline September 10
- Call for Nominations: Chair, Nominations and Elections
- CUASA committee members needed: Grievance Policy and Administration
- Get involved! 2SLBGTQIA+ Pride Caucus and Disability Caucus
- Updates from OCUFA and CAUT
Bargaining News
After surveying the members, visiting units, and holding town halls, during the Fall of 2023 and Winter of 2024, the Collective Bargaining Committee compiled a bargaining mandate which was adopted by the Council of CUASA in March 2024. The Chief Negotiator sent the Notice to Bargain on April 29, in time for May 1st, the end of the 2021-24 Collective Agreement. The Negotiating Team was appointed in April by Council, prior to the notice being sent.
We agreed with the Employer to finish working on the 3 following tasks during the Spring and Summer 2024, before embarking on full Collective Bargaining:
- A settlement on Bill 124
- An agreement about the university standards for the tenure and promotion of Teaching Faculty
- An agreement on the process for Salary Adjustments.
In parallel, the Collective Bargaining Committee finalised the details of the demands, with the help of two research support assistants.
We are now ready to bargain, and are in the process of scheduling a series of negotiation meetings for the Fall term. The 2021-24 Collective Agreement remains in force until a new agreement is concluded by both parties, or until a strike or lockout. CUASA will continue to regularly inform its members on collective bargaining.
Watch your email and the CUASA website for bargaining updates going forward!
Labour Day March Picnic, September 2
The Ottawa and District Labour Council (ODLC) Labour Day 2024 march and picnic!
The March begins 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).
BBQ (Hot dogs, corn-on-the-cob, melon pieces, drinks). Live music, face painting, bouncy castle, wading pool with life guards. Everyone is welcome, of all ages, and everything is free!
If you are attending Labour Day Celebrations and want to share your photos on CUASA’s social media please email them to [email protected] or tag us on X or FaceBook! Please do ask your photo subjects permission to post their photos.
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.
Call for Nominations: Chair, Nominations and Elections
We are currently accepting nominations for the position of Chair, Nominations and Elections.
The Nominations and Elections Committee duties include managing the process of elections for vacant positions on CUASA bodies and notifying CUASA members of elections in which they are elegible to vote. The Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee is a voting member of the CUASA Steering Committee and an Ex officio voting member of CUASA Council.
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].
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].
Get involved!
CUASA’s 2SLBGTQIA+ Pride Caucus and Disability Caucus are now meeting regularly, and are happy to welcome new members. These caucus groups are intended to be an informal 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. Groups usually meet once a month.
If you are interested in participating in these caucus groups, please contact our Equity and Member Services Officer, Max López, at [email protected] for more details.
Updates from OCUFA and CAUT
York academic staff ratify a new collective agreement
Members of the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) voted 91% in favour of ratifying a tentative agreement reached with the help of a mediator on August 20. The deal extends the union’s collective agreement with the York administration through April 30, 2027 and increases wages by 3.1% in the first year and 2.85% in each of the two subsequent years. The new contract addresses faculty concerns over department restructuring […] Read the full update from CAUT
McGill law professors resume strike as university refuses to negotiate
Last Monday, on the first day of the academic year, members of the Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL) resumed their strike, after having walked the picket lines for almost nine weeks this past spring. The union unanimously decided to resume the strike after McGill’s negotiating team refused to show up for scheduled talks on […] Read the full update from CAUT
OCUFA looks forward to working with new Minister of Colleges and Universities
OCUFA welcomes The Honourable Nolan Quinn to his appointment by Premier Doug Ford as Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and Universities. Minister Quinn inherits an extremely important and challenging portfolio, and his term begins as hundreds of thousands of students, faculty, academic librarians and staff return to school across the province. […] Read the full update from OCUFA
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.
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