usfa@usaskfaculty.ca

Important Advice: Keep an eye on your paycheque

It has been a number of years since U of S employees received a hard copy of details concerning their pay on every payday. At one time U of S employees received a cheque along with a write up of those details, including information about any salary changes and deductions from gross pay. With direct […]

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Feedback needed – purchasing technology

The following invitation from Gary Brunet, Director, IT Support Services, is an opportunity for faculty to provide information and comments on improving the experience of purchasing computers and/or computer accessories through IT Acquisitions, including what services and/or products you would like to have offered. Dear USask Faculty, IT Acquisitions provides faculty, staff, and researchers with […]

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The Work of Faculty Continued

We received a number of emails in response to our recent e-Letter: The Work of Faculty. Members told us it resonated with them powerfully.  Faculty expressed that they continue to be frustrated with the Employer’s top-down, opaque process for responding to the pandemic that excludes them from decision making when it directly affects their work. Members are […]

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Academic Freedom and Systemic Racism

You may have read about the faculty member at the University of Ottawa who was recently suspended after students complained that the Professor had used an anti-black, racial slur during a lecture. Her union, and echoed by many academics, immediately criticized the University’s “zero-tolerance” position citing academic freedom requires that the assessment of the appropriate […]

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Important: Consultation underway for web and video conferencing platform

Through the Association’s ongoing meetings with members of the University’s Pandemic Response Team, we have been raising issues facing USFA members including professional expense reimbursement and the use of Zoom. The Employer has told us current licensing will soon be up for renewal and they are consulting with faculty and staff about web conferencing platforms […]

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Important: Professional Expense Allowance

Coming out of our discussions with members of the Pandemic Response Team, the Employer has proposed allowing faculty the option to request a one-time taxable payment from their APEF of up to one year’s allocation to support making their remote work environment more suitable for an extended period. There would be no restrictions or accountability […]

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Important information: Conflict of Interest

With processes for renewal of probation, tenure and promotion underway, we want to draw your attention to new language in the Collective Agreement regarding conflict of interest (Article 10.9), which may have an impact on those eligible to participate in these collegial decisions.  It is not possible to enumerate all of the situations which could […]

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Meetings with USSU and GSA

As part of the USFA’s work building connections with other bargaining units and student groups on campus, the External Relations Committee recently met with representatives from both the University of Saskatchewan Students Union (USSU) and the Graduate Students Association (GSA).  While each organization has its own priorities, they have common issues of concern to students. […]

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Important: Salary Review Reporting Requirements

The Salary Review process is intended to have transparency. Department and College Salary committees are required to report rankings, decisions for the award of Special Increases and recommendations to College Review Committees and the President’s Review Committee as well as the Committee’s reasons for such rankings, awards and recommendations. College Review Committees are required to […]

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