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WUFA Negotiations

Tentative Deal Struck, Classes Set to Resume Monday

The University of Windsor announces that it has reached a tentative agreement with faculty and librarians that would end the current work stoppage and enable classes to resume Monday. The agreement must still be ratified by members of the Windsor University Faculty Association and approved by the University’s Board of Governors. WUFA has been on strike since September 17th.

Back to Work Brainstorming Session

The University has invited the student leaders (GSS President, OPUS President, UWSA President and VPUA) to a deans council meeting taking place October 3rd, at 11:30am.

The UWSA called a brainstroming session at 8:00pm on October 2nd to address certain issues and rights that students felt were important in the back to work protocol. A great deal of ideas were discussed and the ones with the most consensus were put aside for further discussion in the council meeting.

UWSA council and board have were invited, as well as OPUS, GSS, Societies, and any other interested students who would like to have input in this process.

UWSA Protest the Loss of their Education

The University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA) hosted a student rally to protest the current strike. The assembly took the form of a memorial service for the lost education at the University of Windsor on Monday, September 29th at 2:30pm in front of the CAW Student Centre.

This student protest had no affiliation with WUFA or with the administration. It was strictly to foster student unity and support and show BOTH SIDES that students are gravely concerned with the future of their education at the University of Windsor. Students who attended were encouraged to wear all black to correspond with the memorial service theme.

The event consisted of a student procession on campus, speeches, and the launch of a student petition to the government to intervene and get students back into the classroom.

As the previous UWSA rally last Tuesday was scheduled to coincide with a board of governors meeting, this protest backpacked onto a presidential address by Dr. Wildeman to each of the student councils of UWSA, OPUS, and GSS.

After the address, UWSA members made themselves available in the pub in order to allow students to pose their questions regarding the briefing and situation.

Strike Information Session Held

The UWSA hosted a strike information session on Thursday evening from 4:00pm to 7:00pm in Ambassador Auditorium. Hundreds of anxious students showed up for what was intended to be a chance for both sides of the negotiations to have a chance to voice their opinion.

The administration chose not to participate in this opportunity to speak directly to a large portion of its student population. This would prove to upset a great deal of students who were looking forward to getting some answers to their ever-growing amount of difficult questions.

Representatives from WUFA including Brian Brown were in attendance and seemed to gain even more support from the already unwavering student population with its generous donation of over $5,000. The UWSA thanks them for coming out to this event and honestly voicing their opinion on the matters at hand.

Take it to the Streets: Study Session on Sunset

The UWSA hosted a massive student rally/study session on Tuesday, September 23 outside of the Toldo building on Sunset Ave. Students brought friends, lawn chairs, blankets, text books and megaphones in what was supposed to be a quiet protest, but quickly turned into a massive protest. You could feel the anger and the fear in the students’ voices. The students had one message in mind, “We want to go back to class!”

Strike Information

In wake of the ongoing contract negotiations between the Windsor University Faculty
Association and the University of Windsor, WUFA is currently on strike until a proper contract can be comprised. CLASSES ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Negotiations are continuing, and both parties are hopeful that an agreement will be reached as soon as possible.

The University of Windsor Students’ Alliance is dedicated to serving our members throughout the course and in the aftermath of this strike. We support WUFA in their endeavor to secure quality education at the University of Windsor, and fair working conditions for the backbone of this institution. However, our fundamental responsibility is to the students’ whom we have been elected to represent.

UWSA Services

In terms of operations, the UWSA will continue to offer services to students:
a) The CAW Student Centre will remain open 24 hours as social and study space;
b) The Pub will be open to provide food service to students;
c) The Used Bookstore will be operational;
d) Walksafe will continue to operate;
e) The Womyn’s Centre will be open;
f) The Academic Advocate will be available for appointments;
g) The UWSA will keep regular office hours.

UWSA Representation

We have also brought forward a series of questions to the University of Windsor regarding the effect that a strike will have on students both academically and financially.
The answers represent the official administrative position.

1. Can students expect any type of refund, if not, under what precise circumstances would refunds be issued? (length of strike, etc.)
Since we do not foresee loss of the semester, no student refunds are being considered at this time.

2. Will students face academic penalty for respecting the picket line?
The answer is no. We do not foresee any academic penalty for students who choose to not cross a picket line.

3. How will this effect the academic term, specifically will this set anyone back towards graduation?
The University will do everything in its power to ensure that students are able to complete their semester successfully.

4. What will happen to labs (classes not taught by faculty members)?
On a daily basis, the University will determine whether classes will proceed as scheduled.
In the event of any disruption or cancellations, notices will be communicated on the University web site and telephone system and to area radio stations. Classes will not be moved to any off-campus locations.

5. What will happen to general daily activity on campus? Will Ancillary Services continue operating (particularly food services)?
Student ancillary services will continue operating as follows:
Parking: All lots will be open. There will be no parking enforcement during the strike, therefore students can park in any University lot
Athletics & Recreation Services: ARS will continue to run all programs and the facilities will be open during their regular hours.
Student Health Services/Student Counseling Centre: SHS and SCC will continue to operate during their regular hours.
Bookstore: The Bookstore will continue to operate.
Food and Catering Services: will continue to operate but will likely have some change to operating hours in some Food outlets, specific information will be available online.
Residence Services: will be operational.

6. Considering the fact that the syllabus is the contract between the student and the professor and is unchangeable after the two-week mark of a class: How will syllabus changes take place in order to make the necessary adjustments to course structures after a strike?
There is no provision in the bylaws for a strike.

7. What action will the University be taking to inform students of these facts? (Mass email?)
Yes, a mass email will be sent out on the weekend to all University of Windsor students.
There will be updated information on the University of Windsor website including a Frequently Asked Questions page. There will be an opportunity for students to electronically ask additional questions and have the answers posted on the website.
The UWSA has contributed questions to the official FAQ list and lobbied for sufficient answers from the University while the FAQ was being formulated.

UWSA Advocacy

The UWSA is currently lobbying to representatives from both WUFA and the Administration on this topic and encouraged both parties to reach an agreement as soon as possible. It is unfortunate that students have been caught in the crossfire of these negotiations. The UWSA is devoted to advocating on behalf of students and defending students’ rights in the event (and aftermath) of a strike. Please check this website frequently for updates.

Tiffany Gooch
President
University of Windsor Students’ Alliance
puwsa@uwindsor.ca