News

This post is a “reprint” of an article published in the August 2011 edition of the UWSA Staff News. While the Staff News is already available online, given the interest in the article, I am re-posting it in our blog to make it easier for UWSA members (and others) to find and link to.

TEN THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I FOUND OUT I WAS LOSING MY JOB

The Ontario budget of March 25 included a section which called for a two year wage freeze for all public sector workers, except those with current collective agreements. The Confederation of Ontario University Staff Associations and Unions (COUSA) has attended meetings with other labour groups and the government and has forwarded a report on the latest information about government consultations. “Consultations on Public Sector Compensation Begin” is from Hicks Morley, a employer side legal firm. [Report no longer available.]

The Special Initiatives Fund (SIF) was created in 2009 by the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC) for a two-year trial period. With a total budget of approximately $65,000 in annual funding, it is designed to support special projects suggested by staff in the university support group. For more information, please go to: http://staffexcellence.uwaterloo.ca/sif.html

Posted by Liz Koblyk, Staff Career Advisor

Competing for jobs internally gives you advantages: you know the institution well, and you already have contacts and a reputation here.

Internal competitions can also trip up some candidates, however. When you know UW well and have built a good name and network here, it is easy to fall into the trap of under-researching and under-communicating during the job competition.

Greetings,

I would like to remind all USG support staff (including Housekeepers and Janitors) at UW that the deadline for applying for funds from the Special Initiative Fund (SIF) is fast approaching. All applications must be received by 4:30pm on March 31, 2010.

Posting by Liz Koblyk, Staff Career Advisor

Performance reviews can be valuable sources of constructive feedback—and of anxiety, dry mouth, and a sudden inability to express your accomplishments.  You can make your upcoming review easier by incorporating strategies suggested by UW managers.

Greetings,

Written by Marta Bailey
Member of Provost’s Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC)

Over the past 18 months, the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC) has had a huge task: how to best distribute the annual amount of $250,000 originally allotted to the Special Recognition Awards for University Support Staff.