The UWSA works for all staff
The UWSA represents and works on behalf of all USG staff covered by our Memorandum of Agreement with UW.
When the new MoA comes into effect, staff we represent will fall into three categories in terms of your relationship to the UWSA:
Voting Members
If you were hired between October 26, 2022, and April 8, 2026, or you’ve opted in to the UWSA, you’re a Voting Member!
You pay dues and you’re a Member of the UWSA as a not-for-profit corporation, so you have full membership rights, including voting (and running!) in our elections and serving on committees.
This is how we use the term "members" now, and when the MoA refers to UWSA Members, this is the category it’s referring to.
Contributing Members
This will be a NEW category for staff hired on or after April 9, 2026.
They will already pay dues and can access most of our services, but will need to becoming a Voting Member to claim full membership rights.
Eligible Staff
If you were hired before October 26, 2022, and haven’t opted in, you’re not a member yet!
We represent you, and you benefit from our work, but you don’t currently pay dues because that wasn’t in your employment contract. We encourage you to join and gain the benefits of membership, including access to our services and supports. When you join, the university will begin deducting your UWSA dues from each paycheque, at 0.28% of your salary.
In the MoA, staff hired before October 26, 2022, are referred to as "Legacy Staff."
Access to membership rights and benefits
|
Member benefits |
Voting Members* |
Contributing Members |
Eligible Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Salary & policy negotiation |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes |
|
Advocacy support |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes |
🚫 Not eligible |
|
Consultation |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes |
🚫 Not eligible |
|
Events & discounts |
✅ Yes + subsidized event tickets |
✅ Yes |
🟡 Limited access |
|
Emails & info |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes |
🟡 Can access public resources on our website |
|
SEG & student awards |
✅ Yes |
🟡 Voting members preferred |
🚫 Not eligible |
|
Elections, meetings, & committee appointments |
✅ Yes |
🚫 Not eligible |
🚫 Not eligible |
Ineligible staff
There are also staff we don't represent—those who are excluded from representation under our Memorandum of Agreement with UW.
If you're in this category, we won’t collect dues or provide member services, and you won't be eligible to join, but you’ll still benefit from much of our work. You remain part of the campus community we care about, and we’re committed to supporting you through this change.
Transitioning to the updated MoA
Staff whose membership ends as a result of the 2026 MoA will continue to have access to some of our services for a transition period, including advocacy support and discounts until August 31. All staff will continue to be welcome at many of our events, to contact us with questions, and to access our online resources, including forthcoming policy guides. And the updates to the MoA will position the UWSA to more effectively advocate for changes—to policies, compensation, and employment practices—that benefit ALL staff at the University of Waterloo, not just our members.
Why are dues mandatory for new staff?
The basis for this is the Rand decision, a 1946 Supreme Court decision by Justice Ivan Rand, which mandated that all workers covered by collective bargaining should pay dues, ensuring that no one benefits without contributing.
UWSA dues make our work for staff possible. Moving toward full dues participation of all eligible staff will help us sustain our services, strengthen our advocacy, and grow our capacity to support staff.
Our 2022 Memorandum of Agreement implemented mandatory dues for staff represented by the Association, with an exception for staff hired before that MoA was signed (and who therefore didn't have dues included in their employment contract). Many staff hired before the 2022 MoA have already chosen to join and support the Association, and we thank you for that!
How do I opt out?
When the new MoA is ratified, all staff will be able to opt in and out of Voting Membership in the UWSA. However, only staff hired before the 2022 MoA can opt out of dues.
Please contact us if you’d like to leave the UWSA so we can be sure to send you the correct form.