Our advocacy for staff working conditions and compensation is primarily conducted through the Staff Relations Committee (SRC) and the Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC).
This effort is led by the UWSA president, past president, and president-elect. Additional representatives are selected from among elected UWSA directors, though this is distinct from their board roles.
The UWSA Appointments Committee also selects representatives from the UWSA membership to represent the voice of staff on many other university committees.
Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation
The Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC) works on our compensation package, with conclusions forwarded to the Provost for approval. PACSC also discusses other matters related to compensation and approves Staff Excellence funding.
Representatives on PACSC
Your UWSA reps on PACSC are typically the three UWSA presidents and one director appointed by the UWSA president. Currently, they are:
- Lisa Habel, president
- Yessenia Guerrero, past president
- Bill Baer, UWSA director
- Agata Antkiewicz, UWSA director
From the University, the committee includes:
- associate provost, human resources (chair)
- director, HR total compensation
- vice-president, administration and finance
- a member of Executive Council, appointed by the provost
Staff Relations Committee
Staff Relations Committee (SRC) is a key forum through which we establish staff working conditions with the University. Any issue on campus that affects staff may be discussed and remedies suggested. Under Policy 1, all policies affecting staff must be approved by this committee. SRC also reviews organizational changes across the University.
SRC is co-chaired by the UWSA president and the associate provost, human resources. Representing staff are the three presidents, three directors, and one member at large.
UWSA representatives on SRC
- Lisa Habel, president (co-chair)
- Alyssa Kuron, president-elect
- Yessenia Guerrero, past president
- Kenneth Berry, UWSA director
- Bill Baer, UWSA director
- Kosi Ike-Orji, UWSA director
- Goldi Gill, UWSA member-at-large (selected by the Appointments Committee)
Other directors may fill in when members are absent: Agata Antkiewicz, Gail Bender, and Matthew Grant are appointed as alternates.
Pension and Benefits Committee
The Pension and Benefits (P&B) Committee monitors and evaluates the performance of the pension and benefits plan. The Committee recommends and initiates changes and improvements to the plan as required. Minutes and reports to members are available on the Secretariat's website.
UWSA representatives: Melissa Graham, Lily Hua (also on the Pension Investment Committee)
Pay Cycles Working Group
The Pay Cycles Working Group reports to the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC). The Working Group’s mandate is to:
- Develop potential scenarios for shifting the frequency of pay for those paid on a monthly pay cycle to a more frequent pay cycle, weighing any disadvantages, risks, and benefits.
- Provide a summary review of one or more scenarios to PACSC.
- Seek stakeholder and operational input and feedback as appropriate (from HR, Finance, IST, for example).
The target date for completion of this work was May 1, 2024. The committee has submitted a report to PACSC for review.
UWSA Representatives: Trish Owens, Jen McCaig, Cyntia Bratan (alternative)
Dispute Resolution Pool
Policy 36 – Dispute Resolution for University Support Staff outlines a confidential, effective, and fair way to resolve problems, disputes, misunderstandings, and disagreements concerning management action or inaction directly affecting a staff member. When a dispute proceeds to the formal stage, a tribunal is formed from the Dispute Resolution Pool, a group of 12 staff members available to serve should a tribunal be required.
Six members are nominated by the Vice-President, Academic and Provost and six are nominated by the UWSA Appointments Committee.
UWSA representatives: Ryan MacMillan, Samantha St. Amand, Melinda Szilva, David Everest, Jennifer Morgan, Samuel Vandekerckhove
Joint Health and Safety Committees
These committees strive to inform their workplace community on means and measures to improve health and safety according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and University of Waterloo Policy #34, Health, Safety and Environment. Among other duties, members: ensure inspections are conducted; review health and safety concerns; make recommendations for improving health and safety; are consulted on occupational health and safety tests on campus; and recommend the establishment and monitoring of health and safety measures.
Unlike other committees, staff representatives on the JHSCs are not required to be UWSA members.
Staff representatives
- Main campus: Melissa Benjamin, Paulina Cisneros Colin, Ahmad Ghavami, Andrew Urschel, Maryann Sertic, Chris Kleven
- Health Sciences campus: Monica Tudorancea, Lisa Walsh
- Stratford School: Daniel Recchia
- Architecture campus: Mike Syms (non-UWSA member)
Drafting Committee: Policy 12 – Compassionate Care and Bereavement Leave Benefits
This is a new policy, initiated in early 2021. The minimum benefits to be covered under this policy already came into effect May 1, 2022, but we are still waiting for the policy to be completed.
UWSA representatives: Kathleen St Laurent, Sara Perkins
Drafting Committee: Policy 57 – Employee Accommodations
This is a new policy, initiated in 2019, that will outline the provisions and processes for employee workplace accommodations. This policy is a requirement under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and human rights and labour legislation to have clear employee accommodations procedures. The University has so far had accommodations guidelines, but a policy will be more enforceable, and, importantly, requires employee input and approval.
An accommodation is a change or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done so that someone with a disability can apply for a job, perform job functions, or enjoy equal access to benefits available to other individuals in the workplace.
UWSA representatives: Eric Jardin, Bill Baer
Accessibility Committee
Advisory to the Associate Provost, Human Resources, the Accessibility Committee provides a forum for consultation and collaboration on campus-wide initiatives relative to improving the accessibility of the University and its campuses for persons with disabilities whether they be employees, students, visitors, or members of the general public. Compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a foundational focus for the Accessibility Committee and where possible, members will consider inclusive practices that extend beyond a state of AODA compliance.
UWSA representative: Stefaniada Voichita
Copyright Advisory Committee
The Copyright Advisory Committee (CAC) serves as the primary forum for collaborative decision-making regarding copyright and its applications on campus. The committee will work to keep campus administration, faculty, staff, and students informed about the current and ongoing status of copyright and licensing related issues, projects, and developments. The CAC supports campus administration, faculty, staff, and students in their use of copyright protected works, through either Copyright Act exceptions or license permissions.
UWSA representative: Amanda MacKenzie
Employee Assistance Program Committee
The Employee Assistance Program provides assistance to both staff and faculty members who are in distress due to family problems, addiction, or other stressful situations. The committee responsible for maintaining this program also plans and hosts extremely helpful seminars on communication, time management, stress management, dealing with teens, and other pertinent topics.
UWSA representatives: Renate Donnovan, Ashley McKnight
Staff International Experience Selection Committee
The Staff International Experience Fund (SIEF) provides an opportunity for University staff members to travel internationally for professional development. Successful applicants travel to one to two host institutions in one or two countries abroad for a duration of 1-1½ weeks. It grants a maximum of $7,500 to up to three successful applicants. The Selection Committee evaluates and selects the successful applicants for the program.
The SIEF is paused for this year, but but there is funding for a targeted program in partnership with the University of Twente (UT), Netherlands, the Strategic International Experience Grant.
2024 UWSA representative: Jennifer Morgan
Parking Advisory Committee
Vehicle parking affects many people on campus. In order to obtain user views on existing and future policies related to parking and traffic violations, the advisory committee regularly reviews the associated policies and procedures. Please feel free to contact us at uwsa@uwaterloo.ca, or Sustainable Transportation at strnsprt@uwaterloo.ca, if you have questions about this committee.
Sustainable Transportation Planning Group
This temporary committee will advise on the development of a Sustainable Transportation Plan, which will cover many aspects of campus transportation, including fleet, commuting, and shuttle service.
UWSA Representative: Lauren Byl
Property Infractions Committee
Traffic and parking enforcement is necessary to ensure safety on campus. The Property Infractions Committee was established to provide a separate entity from Sustainable Transportation staff to review all written appeals of citation issued on campus.