News Archive
Arbitration Award – Limitation on Appointments of Instructors and Lecturers
June 20, 2024 | All News
This is to advise you of an important arbitration decision in favour of the USFA concerning new appointments of without term Instructors and Lecturers. The limit of 30 new appointments (Article 13.3.4.3) has been exceeded. All future appointments will require JCMA approval. History In May 2023, the USFA filed a grievance against the University of …
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Solidarity with AMPL
June 20, 2024 | All News
In the last few weeks, solidarity with striking Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL) members has been tangible as various academic bodies altered plans for this year’s Congress, June 12 to 21, 2024, hosted by McGill University. Organized by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Congress is the largest academic gathering in …
Not Your Gay Friend
June 17, 2024 | All News
Read the June 15, 2024 issue of VOX here.
2024 USFA scholarship applications are now available online
May 29, 2024 | Collectively Speaking
Online applications for the USFA Scholarship will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2024. The USFA Scholarship Program is open to students who are immediate family members of USFA members. Immediate family includes spouse/partner, their children and including children for whom USFA members have served as legal guardians. The application form for the …
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Alberta’s Public Priorities Act: Political interference in research
May 29, 2024 | Collectively Speaking
The USFA is watching with concern the Alberta government’s efforts to politicize federal research funding. Bill 18, the Public Priorities Act, would give the Government of Alberta the power to review federal research funds received by university-based researchers to ensure they align with provincial government’s priorities. Not only does this legislation jeopardize millions of dollars …
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The BDS Movement and the Palestine-Israel War
May 22, 2024 | VOX
Read the May 15, 2024 issue of VOX here.
2024 USFA Executive Elections: Call for Nominations
March 14, 2024 | Collectively Speaking
This is a call for nominations in the election to fill six vacancies on the USFA Executive Committee commencing July 1, 2024: 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: two vacancies (2 …
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Removing inappropriate comments from SLEQ
March 13, 2024 | All News
Responses to SLEQ are confidential, not anonymous, and it is possible to have inappropriate comments removed. This clearly came through in comments from respondents to our Campus Safety and Student Abuse of Faculty Questionnaire with the suggestion that accountability is needed for anonymous evaluations. Comments from students are treated as confidential and while student identity …
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Negotiations update (March 2024)
March 13, 2024 | All News
Our last negotiations update was provided through a verbal report at the Fall General Meeting. Another verbal report will be provided at the upcoming Spring General Meetings on May 1st. We have had 16 bargaining sessions with employer representatives, and we have seven more sessions scheduled before June. We are keen to conclude in this …
Campus Safety and Student Abuse of Faculty – Suggestions from you
March 13, 2024 | All News
Our recent questionnaire on the topic of campus safety and student abuse of faculty garnered 193 responses. Of these, 121 provided detailed answers to three open-ended questions included in the questionnaire: What was the nature of abuse? (Select all that apply, with an option for “Other” and space for specifying details.) Do you have suggestions …
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Faculty Associations support STF job action
March 13, 2024 | All News
On Monday, the USFA, University of Regina Faculty Association (URFA), Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty Association (SPFA), and Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation (STF) held a joint press conference on the state of funding for education in Saskatchewan. (View the press conference here.) Whether it is early childhood and primary or post-secondary education, we share the same concerns and …
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An important message concerning the Assignment of Duties
February 22, 2024 | All News
Last week faculty members received an email from the Office of the Vice-Provost Faculty Relations regarding the Assignment of Duties process, which is nearing deadlines for completion (Department Heads must complete assignments by March 31, and Deans must approve them by April 30 for the 2024–5 Academic year). You should be aware that, in the …
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Student Abuse of Faculty Questionnaire: What we heard from you
February 14, 2024 | All News
Thank you to everyone who responded to our questionnaire regarding student abuse of faculty. We received 193 responses (nearly 25% of the faculty complement). You can view the results in a graphic format here. Just over two-thirds of respondents told us they have experienced abuse from current or former students with most abuse (75%) taking …
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The Perils of Passion Exploitation: Prioritizing Self-Care as Labour Activism
February 1, 2024 | All News
Read the January 29, 2024 issue of VOX here.
STF Job Action – How you can support STF members
January 31, 2024 | All News
As part of its ongoing efforts to reach a new collective agreement that holds the provincial government accountable for fixing the problems in schools, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) has announced it is implementing rotating strikes. The USFA stands in solidarity with STF’s efforts to reach a settlement that includes provisions to address critical issues …
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Campus Safety – Did you know…?
January 18, 2024 | All News
U of S has a campus safety app. The USafe App is available for Android and iPhone, and gives you direct access to Protective Services and other important safety tools and information, including: USask Alerts: Notifies you of USask Alerts in active and urgent situations (you will have enable notifications in the app). Safewalk/Friend Walk: Provides live …
Prescription vaccinations covered by benefit plan
January 18, 2024 | All News
Are you planning on a hot holiday this winter, worried about getting shingles, or susceptible to respiratory viruses? Our benefits provider, Sun Life, covers the cost of some prescribed vaccines that aren’t covered by the Saskatchewan Drug Plan including RSV vaccines, Shingrix, and Twinrix to name a few. To be eligible a doctor must prescribe …
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USFA 2022-23 Member Update: check your campus mailbox
January 18, 2024 | All News
USFA wants to reach more members with information about our efforts and the contributions of members to support the important work you do. As a result, you should have received a member update sent to you by mail at the end of December. The update provides information about USFA committee activities, bargaining, the Joint Workload …
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December 6 – The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
December 5, 2023 | All News
On December 6, 1989, fourteen young women at Polytechnique Montréal were murdered and 10 others injured in an act of violent misogyny that shook our country and led Parliament to designate December 6 as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals face unacceptable violence and discrimination. …
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Reminder: Professional fee reimbursement claims due December 1
November 28, 2023 | All News
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). Eligible fees are those paid between December 1, 2022 and November 30, 2023. The last …
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