The Association has filed a grievance with respect to the recommendation for tenure and rank after a decanal level appointment. This is not a personal attack on the qualifications of the unit leader, but a matter of upholding the integrity of the collegial processes defined in our Collective Agreement and protecting the jurisdiction of the […]
Read More »An Arbitrator recently ruled that the actions of a Dean in removing the responsibility for a University exchange program from a faculty member’s assigned duties for the 2015-2016 academic year was a violation of the collective agreement, and that the Dean’s action was discriminatory and retaliatory in nature because the member had expressed her intention […]
Read More »Some time ago, as part of the UnivRS project, the University undertook to convert curricula vitae of faculty members to a standard format. The process of conversion has not proceeded as quickly as anticipated, and many faculty members have shared concerns with us about errors in the data entry process, limitations with the software, and […]
Read More »Your Benefits Committee and the Grievance Committee raised serious concerns about the issues associated with members gaining access to and possible privacy of information violations on the Total Rewards Website. On September 14, 2017, we sent out an e-Letter explaining our concerns about the scope of rights you were being asked to waive to gain […]
Read More »Members of the Executive of the Faculty Association, including our Senior Grievance Officer, Patricia Farnese, had an opportunity to discuss forthcoming changes to computer security with senior ICT staff, including Associate Vice-President of Information and Communication Technology, Shari Baraniuk. The plan includes increasing the security around sensitive institutional information, but also requirements for more security […]
Read More »The issue of excessive workload assignments has been raised by members in at least one unit who feel the burden of the institution’s financial concerns are being shifted onto the backs of members. More than a decade ago, USFA negotiated an article entitled Guidelines for Assignment of Duties (article 11.5 in the Collective Agreement). The […]
Read More »Those reading Academica’s Top Ten, especially in combination with local messaging, may have noticed mixed messages as regards attitudes towards faculty compensation. Recently, Academica’s Top Ten cited a Star-Phoenix report that “Despite its recent fiscal challenges and what a recent report described as the erosion of Canada’s research competitiveness, the University of Saskatchewan is ‘punching […]
Read More »The University has contracted with a third party to communicate information about benefits with faculty without notice or explanation to the USFA. Access to the “My Total Rewards” program is available through the employee tab on PAWS. The Association is concerned about the scope of rights members are being asked to waive to gain access […]
Read More »The memo that went out to USFA members from Human Resources yesterday about the MRARP contains several errors. The Detailed Plan Information page linked from the memo references an “Application Process” and provides a link to an “Application” form, which specifies that “your Dean will provide decisions (approvals and deferrals) to you no later than Sept. 30, 2018.” In […]
Read More »Effective May 1, 2017, the University contracted a private corporation called Lifemark Health Group to manage our short-term disability benefit. Part of our Salary Continuance Plan provides that the employer will pay faculty members their full salary for the first 90 days of an illness or disability. Members who remain ill or disabled beyond this […]
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