About The Association
UWFA’s Role
The University of Winnipeg Faculty Association (UWFA) was certified by the Manitoba Labour Board in 1981 to represent the tenured faculty, instructors, Collegiate instructors and librarians of the University of Winnipeg. In 2006, this was expanded to include Contract Academic Staff (CAS). The Association is now comprised of three bargaining units: the Regular Academic Staff Unit (formerly the Main Unit; includes tenured faculty, librarians and instructors), the Collegiate Unit (Collegiate Instructors) and the Contract Academic Staff Unit (Members who are hired to teach on a per course basis).
The Faculty Association’s main responsibility is to deal with issues directly related to the negotiation and enforcement of the Collective Agreements. In addition to the Collective Agreements, the Association also has responsibilities under certain statutes such as The Workplace Safety and Health Act and it can represent the rights of our Members under other legislation such as The Human Rights Act. Certain areas of policy and management are the legitimate responsibility of the University but are not covered by the Collective Agreements, or are covered only indirectly (for example, our grievance process would deal with disciplinary action arising out of an area not covered by a Collective Agreement). When in doubt about whether an issue falls under the Association’s responsibilities, seek clarification from the Association’s Executive Director.
Governance and Dues
UWFA is governed between Annual General Meetings by a Council, members of which normally serve for two year terms (the Contract Faculty Representative and Term Appointment Representative serves a one year term). Members may run for re-election and Members of all bargaining units are eligible to serve.
Our union dues constitute 1.2% of gross salary or a mil rate of 12.0, which is slightly above average for Canadian universities. More information on the Association’s financial situation is available at the request of the members in the Association office and is presented at the Annual General Meeting.
The dues help pay for a variety of things that directly or indirectly benefit Members. These include the services of a full-time Executive Director and Administrative Assistant; course release time or equivalent for table officers, the grievance officer, and members of the negotiating team; limited conference travel for officers or delegates; and research services—such as those needed to produce the UWFA News Bargaining Supplement, our bargaining newsletter. Our defense fund allows us to finance a range of job actions, including providing some funds to participating Members in the event of a strike.
Academic Affiliations
UWFA is a member organization of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), the CAUT Defence Fund and the National Union of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (NUCAUT). UWFA is also a member of the Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations (MOFA).
Academic Affiliate Details
The Canadian Association of University Teachers, CAUT, represents over 40,000 academic staff and provides a variety of educational, legal, and advocacy services, many at no cost to individual members. The CAUT website provides a great deal of useful information about a range of issues: from threats to academic freedom, to negotiating a new job offer.
The CAUT Defence Fund, which invests and administers strike pay for all member associations. If any faculty association goes on strike, payments from the Defence Fund apply after the third day.
The Association is a proud supporter of the CAUT Academic Freedom Fund, a separately administered account financed by donations. This fund is intended to support any faculty association faced with catastrophic costs associated with defending academic freedom.
National Association of CAUT, or NUCAUT, is an alliance formed through CAUT in 2001-02. Our membership allows the Association to send a delegate to the tri-annual Canadian Labour Congress and to tap into the immense resources offered by the CLC as well as our district labour council.
The Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations (MOFA), which represents faculty associations from the University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba, Université de Saint-Boniface, and Brandon University. MOFA engages in political action and lobbying about a range of issues concerning post-secondary education and faculty rights.
Dues: The Association currently contributes about 22% or approximately $81,000 of our total membership dues to CAUT, NUCAUT and the CAUT Defence Fund each year. Approximately 30% of this amount goes to the CAUT Defence Fund.
Labour Affiliations
The Association is a member of the Winnipeg Labour Council (WLC), the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL), the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), and the National Union of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (NUCAUT).
The Association enjoys cooperative relationships with the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association, the University of Winnipeg Retirees Association, the Association of Employees Supporting Education Services (AESES), and the International Union of Operating Engineers.