Author: Abbie

Flying pickets, benefit claim deadline (March 30), reminder to add to the Google doc

Flying pickets The USFA is a member of the CAUT Defence Fund, which provides unionized Canadian academic member unions with a unified strike fund. Whenever an academic staff union that is a member of the Fund goes on strike, the Fund covers the cost of “flying pickets” to join striking member unions on the picket line. … Continue reading Flying pickets, benefit claim deadline (March 30), reminder to add to the Google doc

2022 USFA Executive Elections: Call for Nominations

This is a call for nominations in the election to fill seven vacancies on the USFA Executive Committee commencing July 1, 2022: Category A:  one vacancy (2 year term) Category B:  one vacancy  (2 year term) Category C:  one vacancy (2 year term) Category D: one vacancy (2 year term) Category E: three vacancies (two… Continue reading 2022 USFA Executive Elections: Call for Nominations

Feeling Pressure to Retire? It’s your decision

We are again hearing that some faculty members are being contacted by their deans or department heads to discuss their plans for retirement. And again, these meetings have been requested absent any indication or notice from the faculty member that they are even contemplating retirement at this time. Many USFA members are upset by what… Continue reading Feeling Pressure to Retire? It’s your decision

Assistance requested: Improving Administrative Processes at the U of S

A message from the USFA Senior Grievance Officer:  Dear colleagues, I am the senior grievance officer with the USFA and I am writing to you to ask for your assistance with our work to improve administrative processes at the U of S. We have had several discussions with senior leaders about the delays, obstacles, and… Continue reading Assistance requested: Improving Administrative Processes at the U of S

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… Continue reading Where are the Senior Academic Administrators?

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… Continue reading Tenure and Academic Freedom

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.

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… Continue reading Pivot vertigo: on yesterday’s COVID-19 Update

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