NEWS
AUFA disappointed by Board's hasty rejection of university "rescue plan"The Athabasca University Faculty Association (AUFA) is disappointed the AU Board of Governors has so quickly rejected AUFA’s proposal for the Board to exercise its legal power to appoint an interim internal president, thus saving money and boosting morale at AU. In a media release dated the same day that AUFA announced its proposal, the Board states that it “cannot and will not accept the ‘rescue plan’ motions” and that it “will not, and should not, delegate any of its legislatively conferred duties to any other body.”
“Why is the Board of a University that’s supposedly in financial crisis not interested in saving the estimated one million dollars this proposal would save?” asks AUFA president Mark McCutcheon. AUFA’s proposal would save the University an estimated million dollars in executive pay and headhunter fees for a presidential search, fees estimated at $300,000. McCutcheon also points out that nothing in AUFA’s “rescue plan” asks for the Board to delegate its duties. Read Full response here AUFA proposes University "rescue plan" for interim internal leadership
The Athabasca University Faculty Association (AUFA) has spearheaded a University "rescue plan" to recommend to the Board of Governors the appointment of an interim internal president chosen from the University’s senior staff. This plan would save the University about $1 million in executive pay and the headhunter fees earmarked for a presidential search over the next two years. AUFA’s plan demonstrates fiscal responsibility and leadership: replacing the current president would improve morale and employee confidence in senior administration, which has been sorely lacking since April 2012, when AUFA and CUPE Local 3911 held a vote of non-confidence in the president. Read Full proposal here Athabasca University Faculty Association condemns layoffs
The Athabasca University Faculty Association (AUFA) condemns the layoffs being carried out by the University administration, layoffs that affect 44 University employees, about 24 of whom are AUFA members. AUFA has two concerns: the fact that the layoffs are happening, and the manner in which they have been carried out. Read Full Letter here. AUFA and CUPE advise AU Board of Governors not to agree to E&AE Ministry Letter of Expectation
AUFA and CUPE Local 3911 (AU tutors, markers, lab instructors and academic experts) have sent an open letter to Athabasca University’s Board of Governors, advising the Board not to agree to the Letter of Expectation submitted to the University by the Ministry of Enterprise and Advanced Education. The open letter explains AUFA and CUPE's concerns with the scope and seriousness of the Letters of Expectation and the government's plans for not just AU but the whole postsecondary sector. Read AUFA & CUPE's open letter here Read the Edmonton Journal Article Watch the CBC Radio-Canada (en francais) interview here Read the E&AE Ministry's Letter of Expectation for AU All Letters of Expectation are available at this E&AE Ministry webpage
Proposed Changes to the Universities’
Academic Pension Plan
The long awaited proposed changes to the Universities Academic Pension Plan (UAPP) will soon be ready for AUFA pension plan members to vote on. A detailed information package about the changes will be emailed to members on Tuesday, April 2. A public information meeting has been set for Tuesday, April 9 at AU-Athabasca with teleconference available, after which electronic voting will be open from April 16 to April 19. The changes being proposed are necessary for the long-term viability of the plan and will require members who choose to retire early to assume greater responsibility for funding a portion of the cost. AUFA’s representative to the UAPP committee is Diane Morrison. AUFA responds to dismissal of senior administrators
The Athabasca University Faculty Association (AUFA) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3911 (Athabasca University tutors and academic experts) are shocked by this unexpected and as yet unexplained dismissal of senior staff. These dismissals come at a time when the University’s president has publicly indicated he will not serve out his full term and the Board of Governors have launched an initiative to determine if the University should change its administrative makeup and move to a provostial model. We want a clear explanation of why it was necessary for these actions to be taken at this time, and we want to know what these actions mean for the strategic direction for our university. |
SOCIAL EVENTS
The Social committee wrapped up it's last event for 2013-2014.
Stay tuned for more events. NEGOTIATIONS
Salaries & Benefits - On April 17, the AUFA and Board of Governors (BoG) salaries and benefits (S&B) negotiating teams met in Athabasca to continue negotiations on salary rates (Schedule A-1 and A-2), benefits (Schedule B), and other monetary matters.
The AUFA S&B team comprises Bob Barnetson (chair), Geoff Loken, Mark McCutcheon, Florene Ypma, and Colleen Powell (staff). The Board S&B team comprises Chantel Kossongo (lawyer), Rocky Brown, Seona Noseworthy, Donna Romyn, and Joelle Jackson (support). Terms & Conditions - AUFA’s T&C team exchanged proposals with AU on Tuesday, March 19. Mark McCutcheon (chair) has forwarded a separate update on the outcome of the exchange of proposals through AUFA-notices. Other members of the T&C team are Diane Morrison, David Powell, and Colleen Powell (AUFA staff). MEETINGS
AUFA Annual General Meeting
When: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Where: Athabasca University (All Locations) |
EXTRAS
The Employee Engagement Survey results: Watch your email inbox for Newsletters and Bargaining updates.
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