Sunday April 28, 2013 10:00 am
Spirit Stage in Centennial Square
#1 Centennial Square
Douglas St & Pandora Ave
History of the Day of Mourning 2013
APRIL 28 ~ DAY OF MOURNING
CBC Interview with CUPE 4163 President about Sessional Cuts
This morning, CUPE 4163 President Greg Melnechuk was interviewed by “On the Island” host Gregor Craigie about the sessional cuts at UVic.
Listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download the file: Greg sessional cuts CBC interview
Media coverage is great for shining a light on this issue, but action is also required! Contact your your local political candidates and fill them in – we need the next B.C. government to look into UVic’s governance and spending decisions.
Sessional Cuts Op-Ed in Times-Colonist
The following opinion piece appeared in the Times-Colonist on April 21. Matthew Koch (Vice-President component 1) , Paul MacRae (Trustee component 1) Dave Dolff (Member-at-large component 1), Chris Robinson (staff), and Murray Bush (CUPE National communications rep) were integral in putting it together.
Comment: Sessional instructors play a vital role at UVic
Greg Melnechuk, Times Colonist April 21, 2013
The quality of education at the University of Victoria hangs in the balance as hundreds of sessional instructors face mounting layoffs. When a sessional loses his or her job, it means students have lost a course.
As government continues to slash university funding, UVic continues to cut sessionals, creating larger class sizes, fewer course selections and shrinking teaching support.
In the past 10 years, provincial funding has dropped by 12 per cent. In February, the province announced more cuts to the university sector totalling $50 million over the next three years. In this climate of chronic underfunding, the Ministry of Advanced Education insists that UVic find “administrative savings” that must “not be aimed at students, education programs or research.” That’s easy to say, but the reality is that students, courses and instructors will all be adversely affected.
How important are sessionals? They are the linchpin of the entire university teaching system. Put simply, they make it possible to maintain and enhance the quality of post-secondary education. Sessional instructors are non-faculty employees who teach about 60 per cent of the first- and second-year undergraduate courses and about 40 per cent of all undergrad courses at UVic.
Continue reading ‘Sessional Cuts Op-Ed in Times-Colonist’ »
CUPE University News
Athabasca tutors speak out against cut backs APR 24, 2013
EDMONTON – The union representing 300 tutors, academic experts, markers, and lab instructors at Athabasca University is joining the growing chorus of voices against cut backs to Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3911 said today that broken promises by the Redford government make it harder for Albertans who want to pursue their education online–especially those who live in rural communities, remote areas, and Aboriginal communities–to access a post-secondary education.
“Athabasca University serves a unique segment of the population – one that can’t go to school in a traditional bricks and mortar university,” said spokesperson Dr. Mark Dimirsky. “By forcing Athabasca to cut back, the government is effectively limiting access to education to students who have few other options. Ironically, the open nature and accessibility of AU fulfills the entire e-campus initiative. The cuts make little sense.” Full story http://cupe.ca/education/
Simon Fraser University guilty verdict sticks APR 24, 2013
BURNABY – The BC Labour Relations Board has rejected an SFU bid to overturn a ruling that it is bargaining in bad faith with its 1,000 CUPE Local 3338 employees. The decision was announced on Monday.
The original unfair labour practices judgment was handed down by the LRB back in January. The decision was based on SFU’s insistence on tying changes to the multi-party SFU pension plan to collective bargaining with CUPE.
SFU has been fighting the ruling since January and no other progress has been made in stalled contract talks. Every other public community college and university in the province has settled new collective agreements with their CUPE workers. All the university settlements were reached last year with the exception of SFU, whose CUPE workers have now been without a contract for over three years! Full story http://cupe.ca/bargaining/
UVic Cuts Article in Times-Colonist
University of Victoria raises tuition, cuts staff in bid to erase deficit
Lindsay Kines, Times-Colonist, April 11, 2013
University of Victoria students will pay more for less this year as school officials work to erase a projected $4-million deficit, faculty and staff say.
The board of governors has approved a balanced budget of $314 million for 2013-14 with a two per cent tuition hike and a four per cent cut to all departments and faculties.
Union officials say the cuts will result in bigger classes, fewer teaching assistants and a general decline in quality. At the same time, a typical full-time undergraduate student faces a $99 increase in tuition to $5,058 a year.
Continue reading ‘UVic Cuts Article in Times-Colonist’ »
Last Call for Logo Contest Entries
We’ve extended the deadline for the Logo Contest to 11:59 P.M., Monday April 22.
For contest details, check out the post.
Staff Announcement: New Business Agent Hired
The Executive is happy to announce that Melissa Pritchard has been hired as CUPE 4163′s new Business Agent. Melissa will be starting with us on May 1.
NDP Rally at UVic Thursday April 11, 7:00
This Thursday at 7:00 PM, Adrian Dix and the South Island MLAs will be holding a rally at UVic, to be held in the SUB’s Michel Pujol room.
And are you registered to vote? Check the link in the left menu bar!
Logo Contest Reminder
The CUPE 4163 Logo contest entry deadline is fast approaching!
At the last Component 1 Beer Chat, our hard-working Mobilization Committee put the attendees to work on coming up with promo posters; here are their inspired creations! (click on the thumbnail images to see them full-sized)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
The Contest:
The LOGO will be judged on the following criteria:
- “CUPE 4163″ is easily identified
- The art relate to the Union’s constituency (who we represent, where we work, the work we do)
- Artistic Creativity
- The legibility of artwork when reduced to lapel pin size/ enlarged to billboard size
Entrants are not limited to one submission.
Once the two judges have decided on a logo the Joint Executive will begin using the CUPE 4163 logo on various material to identify and brand CUPE 4163.
There be a prize gift (maximum $100 value) for the winning entry. The winning member will have his/her picture taken with the logo for media purposes.
Closing date for submissions: April 1
Entries may be submitted to the CUPE 4163 office (TEF Room 217) or email office(at) cupe4163.ca