Tuesday, May 18, 1993

CUPE FILES GRIEVANCE:  Local 793 of the Canadian Union of Public
Employees has filed a formal "policy grievance" over the university's
failure to implement the agreed-on May 1 pay increase.  CUPE 793
represents about 300 hourly-paid staff in food services and plant
operations.  The pay increase hasn't been processed because of the
possibility of rollbacks under the Ontario "social contract" now being
negotiated, university officials say.  Personnel director Catharine
Scott confirmed this morning that the grievance was filed Friday,
noting that there is "no hostility" because each side understands why
the other is acting as it is. The grievance could lead to arbitration
if face-to-face negotiations don't bring a resolution.

VOICE-MAIL COMING:  Joan Wiley, manager of telephone services, announced
this morning that UW is acquiring a "voice mail and automated attendant"
system for its telephones.  The "automated attendant" is a computerized
way of having calls to 885-1211 answered when the switchboard is closed
or operators are too busy.  It will take about 12 months to introduce
voice-mail "building by building", her announcement says.  The first
departments to get it will include the registrar's office, graduate
office, co-op education and alumni affairs.  The new system is expected
to save money on answering machines and "direct-in-dialing" lines, as well
as to improve service.

FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF:  The flags at the University Avenue entrance today are
at half-staff to honour the memory of Doreen Stahle, staff member in the
Waterloo Centre for Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, who died Friday. 
Her funeral is being held this morning.

Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs
credmond@watserv1    ext. 3004