Daily Bulletin

Thursday, September 12, 1996

Staff association makes a proposal

"This proposal . . . is not a proposal for the formation of a certified union," writes Mark Walker, the association's president, in the September issue of the newsletter StaffNews. However, it does make the relationship between employer and employees more formal than it has been in the past. The proposed agreement has many resemblances to the Memorandum of Agreement that already exists between UW and the faculty association.

Says the introductory section:

The purpose of this Framework Agreement is to define fair and equitable procedures for the development of salaries and benefits for staff, for the development of policies affecting members of the staff, for resolving staff members' grievances and to ensure equitable treatment among all employee groups on campus. This Framework Agreement, which is outside the Ontario Labour Relations Act, covers all staff with the exception of a limited number of employees who exercise senior managerial responsibilities or who are officers of the University. . . .

The University recognizes that well-trained and experienced employees are a valuable resource. Consistent with this principle, the University will develop staff policies and training which promote continuing employment to the fullest extent possible. The University endeavors to promote a workplace in which employees are encouraged to contribute and develop to their potential. The University recognizes that employees are responsible, capable of working together effectively and able to make appropriate decisions related to their spheres of responsibilities and work arrangements. To help staff be effective, the University wishes to develop and maintain an atmosphere of mutual trust, to entrust staff with authority and to provide information and training. . . .

• Grievance procedures and the right to file grievances under UW's Policy 36.
• Salary negotiations -- with a new procedure for appointing a mediator in case of an "impasse" between management and staff association negotiators. The mediator would have direct access to the board of governors to present a report.
• The staff relations committee, which is currently established by UW's Policy 1. Excerpts from the new proposal:

  The viewpoints of UWSA and the administration will be fully discussed in a collegial manner to ascertain whether there is a common position that is in the best interests of both the University of Waterloo and its employees. . . .

  In the event that UWSA and the administration are unable to reach agreement on any proposal 180 days after its submission to the Committee, a mutually agreed upon facilitator will be invited by UWSA and the administration to assist the members of the Committee in their efforts to reach agreement. . . .

  On a regular basis, the Chair of the Staff Relations Committee will publicly post brief reports summarizing activity which is under consideration by the Committee and will announce upcoming topics to be reviewed. By doing this, the Staff Relations Committee hopes to create a proactive process for including staff comment in its deliberations prior to concluding proposals for policy change. . . .

  Policy approved in principle by both parties will be taken forward to the President. The President may then return the policy to the Staff Relations Committee or issue it as a University policy.

Appointments in plant operations

• David Churchill, continuing as director of technical services -- that includes the plumbing, the wiring and the central plant.
• Gene Starchuk, newly appointed as director of business services -- the money, the relations with municipal government and so on. He replaces Dennis Huber, who was promoted to associate provost (general services and finance).
• Tom Galloway, newly appointed as director of custodial and grounds services. As Galloway put it yesterday, "Now I'm doing my job, Brian O'Riley's job and Rudy Molinary's job." Galloway was previously manager of custodial services, a post that isn't being filled; O'Riley has retired as manager of grounds services, and isn't being replaced; and Molinary was the previous director, who also took early retirement.

Charity events are coming

Tuesday, October 1, will be "a campuswide dress-down day" in support of the United Way campaign on campus, which kicks off that day. "Employees who opt to dress casually that day are invited to make a $2 contribution to the campaign," writes Helen Kilbride, who's chairing the campaign again this year. "In 1995 we raised $1,241 from this event."

Other notes on a gray day

Yesterday's Gazette said in the fine print that UW officials would be making a presentation next Monday, September 16, to the Ontario panel on post-secondary education. Mistake! The panel's tour is in mid-October, and it's October 16 when the UW delegation will appear at a hearing in Hamilton. Latest word is that Waterloo will be on the agenda jointly with, of all places, Sheridan College, at 3 p.m.

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond -- credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004 Comments to the editor | About the Bulletin Yesterday's Bulletin