usfa@usaskfaculty.ca

Collectively Speaking – February 2022

This issue of Collectively Speaking contains a summary of bargaining trends across Canada and a snapshot of financial settlements negotiated by CAUT academic staff associations over the last year. In addition, we have a message from USFA Chair Geraldine Balzer, information about upcoming meetings with members, and a brief article reminding members to tell us […]

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Where are the Senior Academic Administrators?

For the past couple of years, the USFA has been bringing to the attention of senior academic administrators the ways in which administrative decisions are impeding the work of faculty. Chief among these is the decision, made during the early months of the pandemic, to mandate the use of Concur or Direct Travel for booking […]

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Tenure and Academic Freedom

There is a continuous misunderstanding at university campuses, amongst some tenured faculty and staff of the university administration but also in the public at large, about the meaning, purpose, and scope of tenure and academic freedom. In our collective agreement they are defined in article 6 Academic Freedom, and article 15.2 Purpose of Tenure.  As academics, we […]

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Important Information: Ratification Reminder and USFA Office Not Reopening

Happy new year!  This is a reminder that a Special General Meeting of the Faculty Association will be held virtually on Monday, January 10th at 2:00 pm to consider ratification of the tentative agreement (attached). The meeting will take place via Zoom. Please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpdO2vrzwqHtSG8g7_A3zKGpkWF75NfTRJ The USFA office will not reopen today as planned and will be closed until January 24.

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Pivot vertigo: on yesterday’s COVID-19 Update

Here we are again.  Under the heading “Protect the Pack,” yesterday’s COVID update from the Usask Pandemic Response and Recovery Team (PRT) sent another contradictory “wait-and-see” message to faculty. Usask’s winter term, including face-to-face classes, is scheduled to start as planned on January 4. Shortly after this was delivered, the You|Sask Faculty & Staff Newsletter showed up in our inboxes announcing that […]

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University Council Motion on Intellectual Property Policy – a cautionary note to Council

At the November 2021 Council meeting, the “Inventions and Enterprise Creation Policy – For Council Approval – November 2021” was presented for approval by vote. The Collective Agreement between the University of Saskatchewan and the USFA governs intellectual property (IP) involving faculty under Articles 25 and 26, and an associated Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). Recognizing […]

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Important Notice: Ratification Meeting January 10, 2022

Since May 2021, USFA has been engaging in negotiations regarding a retirement incentive proposed by the Employer. We are pleased to let you know these discussions have concluded with a tentative agreement that provides some certainty and stability for an additional year through an extension to the Collective Agreement, enhancements to permanent retirement incentives in […]

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