Blog

Hello to all our UW staff, and Happy Friday - it's pay day!  I am still very grateful that our employer has largely been able to keep us all employed and paid while so many others are needing to navigate the supports being made available from our federal and provincial governments.  I also understand that the scheduled pay increases set for May 1st are in progress and will be happening.

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.

Dear Members,

Well, it’s payday today!  I am grateful that we are still getting paid – that the University is operating, that HR staff are processing payroll, and that all the other staff and faculty and CUPE employees are keeping things running, whether having to come on-site or working remotely.  I have expressed to others that it is incredible that we are able to continue operating an organization our size with so many of us having to work remotely.

Dear members,

Dear members,

As we welcome in 2020, I can look back at my first two months as President of the UWSA.

First of all, it is truly an honour to serve in this position.  We have a terrific board of dedicated UW staff members, plus our own two very dedicated UWSA staff - Gail Spencer and Cathy Bolger.  I am so grateful for this great group of people to work with, on behalf of our members.

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!