The Daily Bulletin This is the first Daily Bulletin since its usual creator, Chris Redmond, left for two weeks of holidays. A number people on campus have asked that the bulletin be continued in his absence so the Information & Public Affairs office will attempt to do so until he returns. --- Martin Van Nierop, Director, I&PA ------- Social Contract talks have continued as the university tries to reach agreements with its employee groups before the Aug. 1 government deadline. The staff and faculty associations both met last week with the university administration. No deals have been reached yet with those two employee groups but some progress has been made, according to Dr. Jim Kalbfleisch, vice-president, academic and provost. However, the board's pension and benefits committee met Thursday and an agreement was reached which will see some savings for both the employees and the university. The pension and benefits committee carefully reviewed the financial state of the plan and concluded it is in "excellent health," Dr. Kalbfliesch said Friday. As a result it will be possible to provide some relief over the next three years. Employee contributions will decrease by 10 per cent for the next three years, and the university will match the employee contributions. "These changes will in no way affect the pensions of current or future retirees. As a result of these actions, employees will realize savings through lowered pension contributions and in a smaller number of unpaid days off than would otherwise be necessary," he said. How this will work regarding any effects on employees making under the government's $30,000 cut-off is still being discussed. The university is preparing a detailed bulletin describing the changes for distribution to all faculty and staff as soon as possible this week. ------------ Also re: Social Contract -- UW's CUPE employees have had their 1% increase processed because the collective agreement, signed before the government's June 14 exemption deadline, makes it fully binding on the university. If the universaity had not lived up to the contract, a filed grievance would have ended up in arbitration by this Wednesday. As a result six positions from the CUPE ranks (in plant operations and food services) will be lost to compensate for the 1% increase. Again, it's expected that the compensation will be in positions, not layoffs. -------------- Campus Police have issued an alert to the university regarding a series of incidents involving a man on a 10speed bike grabbing or touching female students last Wednesday night, between 11 and 11:30 p.m. on the pathways near Math and Computer, Chemistry, Arts Lecture and Hagey Hall. The individual rode up behind the students and touched them on the buttocks and/or breasts. Three people reported such assaults, and since the initial police report another two have come forward to report similar incidents at the same time on Wednesday. The man is described as white male, about 25, of thin medium build and long thin face, medium brown hair cut short, possibly wearing glasses. The bike is described as an older model, inexpensive 10-speed, light in color. Police are currently showing some mug shots to the victims, mostly to eliminate possible suspects. --1915760742-1738937507-743441827:#24669--