News Archive
Expectations for teaching, research, and service
February 6, 2020 | USFA e-Letter
The Joint Committee for the Management of the Agreement has had discussions recently regarding assignment of duties. These discussions have included the three primary areas of responsibility that faculty duties entail – research, teaching, administration – expressed in percentages of time devoted to each area, most often as 40% research, 40% teaching and 20% administration. …
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The Unifor Lockout at Co-op Refinery Complex
January 17, 2020 | USFA e-Letter
After members of Unifor Local 594 voted 97% in favour of strike action against the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) last December, the CRC locked out the workers. Unifor contacted labour organizations, including USFA and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (of which USFA is an affiliate), asking them to participate in a national boycott of co-ops …
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Search and review processes are important to USFA members
January 14, 2020 | USFA e-Letter
It is clear from responses to our recent e-Letter regarding the appointment of senior administrators that the search and review processes for these positions are very important to USFA members. We received a number of emails from members in response to our e-Letter. Some expressed disappointment, while others expressed anger. We heard from many that …
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The Perils of Publishing -Do You Trust Your Co-author(s)?
November 25, 2019 | USFA e-Letter
There is a broad diversity of what constitutes authorship across disciplines. You have responsibilities when you accept to have your name as an author on a publication. In collaborative research, one cannot be responsible for all aspects of data collection, conduct of research, analysis, or writing. Nonetheless, authors cannot absolve themselves completely of subsequent problems …
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Increase in Senior Administrative Appointments
November 22, 2019 | USFA e-Letter
USFA Chair Doug Chivers sent a letter to President Stoicheff and the Chair of the Board of Governors on November 12, 2019 expressing concern over (i) the increase in senior administrative appointments, and (ii) the number of such appointments made without the benefit of a formal and competitive search process. The USFA’s letter requests an …
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Important Notice: Claims now being accepted for reimbursement of professional fees
November 1, 2019 | Benefits
If, as a condition of employment, you are required to maintain a certification or license in order to perform your academic duties, you may be eligible for reimbursement of some or all of your licensing or certification fees (Article 22.12.2). Claims for reimbursement must be submitted between November 1 and December 1, 2019. What you need to …
Discussions continue nationally and locally on teaching evaluations
March 7, 2019 | All News
On March 1, 2019, The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) released its report investigating complaints of misuse and inappropriate interpretation of the scores on student evaluations of teaching. The report points out that many factors figure in students’ responses, some of which have nothing to do with quality of teaching: class size, time …
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Assignment of Duties: Annual meeting and equitability
March 6, 2019 | All News
This is the time of year when the process for the Assignment of Duties is underway. Provisions for the assignment of duties are covered in Article 11 of the Collective Agreement. Department Heads, or Deans in non-departmentalized Colleges, “following consultation and discussion with faculty at a meeting,” assign duties. This annual meeting is an important …
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Arbitration Decision: Grievance 2017-01 Surreptitious and Non-consensual Recording of College Committee Meetings
February 25, 2019 | All News
In a recent arbitration hearing, Arbitrator Anne Wallace Q.C. considered the issue of audio recording of College Review Committee (CRC) meetings and deliberations. The Association filed a grievance when it appeared that one College’s CRC deliberations were being recorded without the knowledge or consent of some of its committee members and without the matter having …
Possible CUPE Job Action
February 14, 2019 | All News
The USFA Executive is concerned about the current state of labour relations on campus. We are working hard to improve these relations and we call upon USFA members to help with this effort. The USFA shares a common interest with the other unions on campus in negotiating fair compensation, job security, and safe working conditions …
Negotiations Update: January 2019
January 2, 2019 | All News
To our USFA colleagues, happy new year and best wishes for the coming year! With the beginning of the winter term, we are setting up more meetings with the Employer. We continue to work toward conclusion of a prolonged, and occasionally contentious, process. Since we began negotiations with the Employer in July 2017, many of …
Event Notice: Walk with UFCW Westview Co-op 5:00-7:00 Dec 20
December 20, 2018 | All News
On Thursday, December 20th SK Federation of Labour (SFL) will be walking the picket line with UFCW 1400 members at the Saskatoon Coop Westview (33rd St W and Ave P N) from 5 pm to 7 pm. The SFL has invited affiliated unions, their locals, Saskatoon Coop members, and others to join them in walking …
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DECEMBER 31, 2018 SPENDING CREDIT AND ALLOCATION DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR FLEXIBLE SPENDING PLAN!
December 20, 2018 | All News
Faculty are reminded that each December 31 is a deadline for the spending of at least some dollar amounts in your Health and/or Personal Spending Accounts under the Flexible Spending Plan. Amounts allocated are only permitted a two year rollover and dollar amounts left unspent after the two year period are returned to the Employer. …
Changes in R & C Limits and Flexible Spending Account Impact
December 10, 2018 | All News
Faculty are advised to check the upcoming changes effective January 2019 in coverage limits for amounts reimbursed for individual visits to the various paramedical practitioners covered by the Sun Life Extend Health Benefits. While the overall yearly maximum coverage amount remains in effect at $500 per year, changes are occurring in the maximum per visit …
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Event Notice: Walk with UFCW Attridge Dr. Co-op 5:00-7:00 pm Nov 28
November 27, 2018 | All News
UFCW Local 1400 members have been on strike with the Saskatoon Coop since November 1, 2018. Saskatoon and District Labour Council will be walking the picket line with UFCW 1400 members at the Saskatoon Coop Attridge Drive location on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 from 5 pm to 7 pm, and invites affiliated unions, their locals, …
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Important Reminder: Dec 1 deadline for claims for reimbursement of professional fees
November 23, 2018 | All News
If you are required to maintain a certification or license in order to perform your academic duties, you may be eligible for reimbursement of some or all of your licensing or certification fees (Article 22.12.2). Claims need to be in by December 1. What you need to know: It is your responsibility to make sure …
Labour Relations: “Emergency” preparedness
November 15, 2018 | All News
Recently, research employees and out-of-scope employees in the College of Arts and Science received an email regarding contingency planning “in the event of an emergency or if relief work is needed during a CUPE 1975 strike.” The message requested recipients to complete a “confidential” skills inventory form itemizing their credentials or experience in the trades, …
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Labour Relations: A poor state at Canadian Universities
November 13, 2018 | All News
Labour relations are in a poor state at Canadian Universities and we are not immune here at the UofS. In July, some 3,000 contract faculty and graduate teaching and research assistants at York University were legislated back to work after 143 days on the picket line (the longest strike in the post-secondary sector in Canadian …
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Important Notice: Claims now being accepted for reimbursement of professional fees
November 1, 2018 | All News
If you are required to maintain a certification or license in order to perform your academic duties, you may be eligible for reimbursement of some or all of your licensing or certification fees (Article 22.12.2). Claims for reimbursement must be submitted between November 1 and December 1, 2018. What you need to know: It is …
U of S faculty respond to Ryerson decision on student evaluations
October 2, 2018 | All News
During the busy summer season, the USFA published an e-Letter about the Ryerson Arbitration on teaching evaluations, where the arbitrator ordered that student-based evaluations of teaching not be used to measure teaching effectiveness in tenure and promotion cases, effective immediately. The decision stated that the evaluations “are imperfect at best and downright biased and unreliable …
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