Archive for the ‘member emails’ Category
Members’ Day Lunch 2025
Sunday, June 1st, 2025
Thank you to the hundreds of members who attended our Members’ Day Lunches at the UM Bannatyne, UM Fort Garry, and UW campuses. This year, over 730 members registered to join us. This was our largest turnout ever! It was amazing to see everyone and enjoy lunch! Over $300 in monetary contributions were collected, and over 95 pounds of non-perishable food was delivered to the campus food banks. Thank you for your generosity!
University of Manitoba – Bannatyne Campus – May 7
University of Manitoba – Fort Garry Campus – May 21
The University of Winnipeg – May 28
25 Years of Service
During lunch, President Rob Parker acknowledged members who have 25 years of service and presented them with a token of appreciation.
25 Years of Service – 2025
Sunday, June 1st, 2025
During our 2025 Members’ Day Lunches, President Rob Parker acknowledged members who have 25 years of service and presented them with a token of appreciation. Congratulations to the following members:
University of Manitoba – Bannatyne Campus
- Kathryn Chmelnytzki
- Jose Coreas
- Jean Lyon
- Terri Martin
- Ginger Shurek
- Ruth-Ann Soodeen
University of Manitoba – Fort Garry Campus
- Jeff Durston
- Pauline Lawson
- Louise Roy
- Fred Wong
The University of Winnipeg
- Karen Barkhouse
- Mark Bezanson
- Christy Campbell
- Stefanie Dram
- Colin Fijal
- Marnie Loewen
- Mark Rogowski
- Brad Russell
- Carmine Vizza
Safety and Health Corner – June 2025
Sunday, June 1st, 2025
AESES Safety & Health Committee Update
The Committee held its Winter term meeting on April 2, 2025. The main topics of discussion were incident reporting, prevention auditing, and training provisions. These discussions focused on understanding the current practices and procedures to see where work may be required by AESES and this Committee to help facilitate improvements in these areas. No items were identified as requiring action at this time. As requested at the previous meeting, the AESES office is continuing to explore ways to best facilitate communication and info/document sharing between meetings for the Safety & Health Committee members. The next meeting will be held in Fall 2025.
Any workplace safety and health items you would like to bring to the committee’s attention can be emailed to labourteam@aeses.ca.
AESES appointed UM LASH Representative Vacancies:
- Admin UC LASH Committee
- Education, St, Paul’s, St. John’s, NCTR or CATL LASH Committee
If you are an AESES-UM member working in one of these LASH districts and are interested in sitting on the AESES Safety & Health Committee and being the AESES-appointed representative on this LASH committee for a 2-year term, please contact labourteam@aeses.ca.
- For more info on UM Local Area Safety and Health (LASH) committees, visit the UM Intranet website.
- For more information on the UW Workplace Safety & Health Committee, visit the UW Human Resources website.
President’s Message – June 2025
Sunday, June 1st, 2025
Ah, June! The time when many of us look forward to the warmth of summer, to planning vacation time, and reconnecting with our friends and family. A time for warmth, community, and continued solidarity. And as always, no matter the season, AESES continues to fight for equity, member rights, and respect in the workplace. But that’s not all…
We do have some exciting activities coming up over the summer months. A chance for us all to connect, boost morale, and remind ourselves that life definitely does not center around the work day! Over the coming months, we will be providing deals for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Sea Bears, Winnipeg Goldeyes, and Valour FC. Tickets for these events are specifically discounted for AESES members. I’m reminded that teamwork in sports is not unlike the teamwork we need in the labour movement. All of us are working together towards a common goal. Watch your email and our website for more details.
June is also Pride Month, and our union stands proudly with 2SLGBTQIA+ members. Inclusion is not optional—it’s foundational to the labour movement. We support safe, respectful workplaces where all members can thrive without fear of discrimination.
Finally, as I stated in our last update, bargaining is about to get underway at The University of Winnipeg. We held our first AESES-UW Members Meeting on May 29 and presented the members in attendance with proposals that will begin the bargaining process with the employer.
We’ll also be calling for proposals and creating the University of Manitoba’s Negotiation Committee imminently. We stand firm in our commitment to securing strong collective agreements that protect wages, improve working conditions, and defend the rights we’ve fought so hard to win.
Our union is only as strong as its members are engaged. Make sure to watch for email updates and to follow us on social media (Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn)!
In Solidarity,
Rob
Join Us for Our Members’ Day Lunch
Wednesday, April 16th, 2025
Join us for your choice of a barbequed hamburger or hot dog, along with coleslaw, potato chips, and a refreshing lemonade or iced tea. If you have a dietary restriction, please include it in your registration.
Please support your campus Student Food Bank by donating non-perishable food OR a monetary donation. In appreciation, your name will be entered into a draw to win a prize!
University of Manitoba – Bannatyne Campus
- May 7, 12:00 – 1:00 pm and 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Buhler Atrium*NEW LOCATION*
JOE DOUPE CONCOURSE
2nd Floor Basic Medical Sciences Building
The deadline to register was April 23, 2025
University of Manitoba – Fort Garry Campus
- May 21, 12:00 – 1:00 pm and 1:00 – 2:00 pm
MPR, UMSU University Centre
The deadline to register was May 7, 2025
The University of Winnipeg
- May 28, 12:00 – 1:00 pm and 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Riddell Hall
The deadline to register was May 14, 2025
Register here!
Can You Tell Me: How can workload issues be addressed?
Monday, April 7th, 2025
How can workload issues be addressed?
AESES members should not work through breaks or lunch and normally should only work beyond regular hours if compensated at overtime rates. While extra work may sometimes be necessary to manage workloads, working unpaid hours is not the appropriate solution. This practice can obscure underlying workload issues, creating the false impression that more work can be completed in a typical day than is realistic. Additionally, performance concerns can arise if extra time is reduced or stopped, leading to the assigned work no longer being completed within previously established timelines—timelines that may have become the employer’s expectation.
Both the AESES-UW and AESES-UM Collective Agreements include a Letter of Understanding (LOU) regarding managing excessive workloads. At UW, the LOU outlines that the employee should first discuss their concerns with their supervisor, who will attempt to resolve the matter. If unresolved, the employee should contact AESES. If necessary, AESES and the Human Resources Department will further discuss the issue. If both parties agree the concern is reasonable and likely to persist, they will explore potential solutions to assist the employer in addressing the issue. The process at UM is similar, with AESES and the University meeting to discuss concerns and possible solutions as needed.
If workload demands become difficult to manage, the first step is to speak with your supervisor, as outlined in the LOU. Potential solutions, such as reassigning tasks or setting new priorities within the department, are within the employer’s control. It is important to inform the employer when struggling with workload so that appropriate solutions can be identified.
To prepare for this discussion, start by tracking time over a week or two, noting instances when working beyond scheduled hours occurs. A helpful next step is to prepare a written outline of the workload issues, including specific examples. For instance, one might say, “I was only able to take a half-hour lunch instead of the full hour on this day for the following reason.” While potential solutions can be suggested, it is important to understand that the employer has control over the final decisions and may choose a different approach. Once prepared, consider presenting your summarized concerns to your supervisor so that solutions can be explored.
If workload issues remain unresolved after these steps, the AESES Labour Team can assist by engaging in discussions with HR on your behalf. Please contact LabourTeam@aeses.ca for further support.
President’s Message – April 2025
Monday, April 7th, 2025
Of the many things that AESES does, bargaining on your behalf for a fair and equitable contract is certainly among the most important. Whether early in the life of a contract, or getting closer to the expiration of one, getting the best possible deal from the employer is always at the top of the list of concerns for most of our members.
Rightly so.
Besides bargaining for the best possible monetary outcome for our membership, AESES also bargains to ensure that the protections and rights afforded us via the current agreement are not eroded, and that improving other rights and benefits beyond the monetary are also explored and advocated for.
Protecting and championing the rights of our membership is central to AESES’ mission, and our membership is intrinsically aware of this. This is evidenced by the fact that we routinely receive questions in anticipation of our next round of bargaining, such as when the process will begin, and how folk might get involved.
This is very encouraging to see!
Bargaining at The University of Winnipeg is already underway, with the Negotiations Committee (who is responsible for vetting proposals from the membership) having put forward many proposals for action by the Bargaining Team (who is selected from the negotiations committee and does the actual bargaining with the employer). We will be scheduling a membership meeting to approve the final list of proposals in the very near future.
Still, AESES has other things in store for the coming months, as well. Our Members’ Day Lunches will be taking place in May (Brodie Centre, May 7, Fort Garry, May 21, and The University of Winnipeg, May 28). More information to follow. We also still have a few spots open in some of our Spring Educational Seminars, which include two invaluable sessions on labour relations led by our very own Labour Team.
There is also time to register for the AESES Annual General Meeting, to be held virtually on April 8th. It’s a great opportunity to find out what’s being going on with your union over the past year, including the financials and reports from standing committees.
Finally, as always, remember we are here for you. Should you feel like you’re being unfairly treated, or have questions regarding things such as reclassification, please don’t hesitate to contact the office. We’re here to help!
In Solidarity,
Rob
Register to Attend the Annual General Meeting – April 8
Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 PM
All signed* AESES union members are invited and encouraged to attend this year’s virtual AESES Annual General Meeting (AGM). In 2024, we had many members join us for the evening.
The AGM allows our executive team and committee chairs to review AESES financials with attendees, speak about the union’s activities, explain how our programs can benefit our membership, and preside over a question period.
Join us on April 8 to meet the people behind the decision-making process for spending your union dues and learn more about our programs and services. There will also be time for asking questions to members of the Executive Council and the Board.
* Please note that only signed AESES members can attend the AGM and vote on any issues that arise. If you are interested in attending the AGM but not yet a signed member, please visit aeses.ca/membership to fill out a membership form.
insideAESES – February 2025
Wednesday, February 5th, 2025
Welcome to February! We are still working on what works best for our members, so there might be a few hiccups along the way. If you have any questions or comments about the new format, please email contact@aeses.ca.
With that being said, here’s what you might find interesting for this issue:
- President’s Message
- Contract Admin
- Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Walk 2025 – Donate to Chris McCann’s Crew: Team AESES!
- AESES Appointments – February 2025
- New Faces
- Can You Tell Me: How Seniority Plays a Role in Vacancy Selections
- Save the Date – Annual General Meeting – April 8
- Call for Volunteers – Committees and the Board
- Safety and Health Corner – February 2025
- Spring Education Seminars Coming Soon