It is with broken hearts that we let you know that a long-standing member of the UWSA executive and the Board of Directors Michael Herz has passed away on January 14, 2023; he was 59 years old. The news is devastating to his family, friends and colleagues, and also to the Staff Association as a whole.
Work here at UWSA continues on behalf of all members, and I am very pleased to report we’ve had some big wins this year! Here’s just a few of them:
Transparent communication is essential in all areas of life, but especially in the workplace. We believe the UW communications about working remotely and the return to campus plan last week showed a lack of clarity and compassion for employees.
Good riddance to 2021, right? Just when we thought we could put the pandemic behind us, it came roaring back to disrupt our time with friends and family over the holiday break. Although 2021 may not have been everything you hoped, this pandemic has allowed for some myth-busting and self-growth. It is clearer than ever that complete separation of the personal from the professional is not possible. In 2022, let’s welcome and honor whole human beings working at UWaterloo, and help create a work environment where people are supported to engage their hearts and minds.
Dear UWSA members,
I recently took a week off to recharge. When I wasn’t gardening, beekeeping, canoeing, or birdwatching, I was building a garden shed. The building project really helped me get out of my head. As the week passed and the shed took shape, I gained scratches, bruises, and achy muscles from the task. I felt the tension fade into the background, and I enjoyed the sun and the heat and the work. It was a great week! But things were still percolating in the back of my mind.
Over the past weeks, your UWSA has been actively working with UW on behalf of our members in several areas: an updated performance appraisal process for 2020, safety procedures for those working on campus, our compensation agreement (which expires at the end of April), and a revised Memorandum of Agreement. These are important issues for our members, and we’ve been working hard to ensure staff interests are at top of mind for each. I’ve provided a brief update on each of these areas, and I’m happy to hear from anyone who has any questions about this work.
First, I would like to thank all of our members for your support during my term as President. My term has ended and I now pass the baton onto Kathy Becker who, I believe, will be a strong champion for staff!
I would also like to thank the team I had in the UWSA Board of Directors and our UWSA Staff. They help support all of our initiatives in so many ways. A very dedicated and enthusiastic bunch of people!
Hello UW staff members! My name is Kathy Becker, and I’m the current UWSA President-elect. I started this part-time, volunteer role when I was elected in October 2019 and spent the first few months learning the role and getting my head around the many moving parts. And then, like so many of you, I also suddenly had to figure out how to translate my work into a remote working-from-home reality during a global pandemic.
Dear Waterloo staff,
I am reaching out to you today to give you an update on the activities of the University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA). We have been in regular contact with the University’s senior administration, including weekly meetings of the Pandemic Planning Committee, along with our colleagues from the Faculty Association (FAUW) and CUPE. While we have been sending out regular updates to our members, I wanted to reach out to all staff as the topics we’ve discussed and sent out affect all of you.
I am now coming up to two weeks in my official duties as President of the Staff Association. And I have to say, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind!
As you may know by now, Rose Vogt tendered her resignation from the Board as she was moving on to the greener pastures of retirement. We all wish her a happy retirement! But that did leave us with a vacancy in the role of Past President which Michael Herz has agreed to take on – thanks Michael!