Archive for the ‘member emails’ Category
Extra, Extra: insideAESES Newsletter (December 2023)
Tuesday, December 5th, 2023
Welcome to December! Yes, that’s correct, December. While it doesn’t look like December with the lack of snow, it does signify the last insideAESES issue of the year.
Before you continue your holiday shopping/baking/celebrating grab an egg-nog-filled Moose Mug and take a few moments to read about:
- A message from AESES president Chris McCann
- Invitation to the AESES Holiday Open House – December 15, 3:00 – 6:00 pm
- Photos from the Children’s Christmas Party
- The Rogers Sugar Strike
- The final 50 for 50 Contest Winners
- New AESES appointments
- 2024 AESES Draft Budget
- Family Care Resources and more
View the December issue and previous ones here.
Happy holidays, and see you at our Open House on December 15th!
Email to AESES-UM Members – UM Pension Plan Change
Tuesday, November 14th, 2023
November 14, 2023
To: All AESES-UM Members
By now, you should have received an email from the University advising of an upcoming change to the UM Pension Plan (1993), if you did not see it in your email Friday, check your Junk Mail folder. The email laid out the reason why this necessary change is required and advised employees that there will be no diminishment of their pension entitlement. AESES has been directly involved in the discussions and wants to assure our members that this is indeed the case.
In 2019, the University notified AESES and the other union and retiree stakeholders at the UM Staff Benefits Committee that it was necessary to make changes to the “1993 Pension Plan” to ensure it remained compliant with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rules, and to ensure that retirement annuities could continue to be funded on a long-term basis. This “1993 Pension Plan” is the one that all current members participate in, even if you were just hired. After several special meetings of the Staff Benefits Committee in 2019 and 2020, AESES partnered with UMFA. Together we retained our own external legal and actuarial professionals to ensure the CRA required changes were necessary and implemented properly. While we recognized to come into compliance with CRA rules that changes were necessary, we wanted to ensure the preservation of our members’ existing pension benefits. The counsel we retained engaged with the University’s pension plan administrators and not only protected our interests but was integral to devising a solution that maintained the flexibility and benefits of our pension with guarantees members would see no diminishment of benefit.
Following our recent Staff Benefits Committee meeting on Monday, November 6, the committee has now recommended that the proposed changes we helped craft be accepted and they have now been referred to the Board of Governors for approval. The plan amendments are expected to be implemented in 2024.
The University has provided contact information for the Pension Office should you have any questions about the plan change. However, if you would like to speak with someone from the AESES Business Office regarding this, contact our Labour Relations Officer, Lorne Hilton (lhilton@aeses.ca), who has been central to this process.
Thank you,
Chris McCann
AESES President
AESES Children’s Christmas Party
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023
It’s almost that time of year! The AESES Activities Committee is excited to announce the annual Children’s Christmas party.
Sunday, December 3, 2023
1:00 – 4:00 pm
University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus
MPR, 220-224 UMSU University Centre
The registration deadline was October 30, 2023. No late registrations or walk-ups at the door will be accepted.
Extra, Extra: insideAESES Newsletter (June 2023)
Monday, June 5th, 2023
Welcome to June! Just like the blazing heat, another issue of insideAESES is coming at you!
Grab a nice cold beverage and take a few moments to cool down and read about:
- A message from AESES president Chris McCann
- AGM, Volunteers’ Appreciation Banquet, and Members’ Day Lunches recap
- Questions about break entitlements
- June 50 for 50 Contest
- New AESES appointments
- Ongoing union and member grievances
View the June issue and previous ones here.
Don’t forget the AESES 50th anniversary social is this Saturday, June 10. We only have a small number of tickets left available to purchase. Learn more at https://aeses.ca/social. Visit and follow our new Instagram account to see some of the silent auction prizes up for grabs!
Tragedy in the Middle East: Massive Earthquakes Devastate Turkey and Syria
Tuesday, February 7th, 2023
The earthquakes that recently struck Turkey and Syria have caused widespread destruction and loss of life. Reports now indicate that over 7,400 people have died, and many more have been injured or are missing. The initial earthquake was one of the strongest to hit the region in a century and was felt as far away as Lebanon and Israel.
We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by the disaster. Our thoughts are with our AESES members who may have family and friends in the region during this difficult time. The loss of life and destruction is heartbreaking, and we hope for a swift and thorough response from the authorities and rescue organizations to support those in need on site.
In solidarity,
Chris McCann
AESES President
Notice of Passing – Paul Hazelton, AESES Honourary Life Member-Past President
Monday, January 9th, 2023
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Paul Hazelton on December 25, 2022. Paul was part of the original group present at the Charter meeting on December 9, 1972, and was instrumental in the creation, growth and success of AESES over the years. As an AESES Honourary Life Member and Honourary Life Member-Past President, Paul was on the AESES Board of Representatives for an astounding 41 years from 1973 – 2014. He held the AESES President position from 1975 – 1978.
Surviving Paul are his wife Valerie, daughter Melissa (Jonny) and son Robert. His obituary and tribute wall can be found here: https://memorials.neilbardalfuneralhome.com/paul-hazelton/5103004/index.php
More information about Paul’s accomplishments and stories of how he helped shape AESES will follow at upcoming events and in future publications.
Extra, Extra: insideAESES Newsletter (December 2022)
Wednesday, December 7th, 2022
Wow, it’s cold out! You know winter is here when Jack Frost is nipping at more than your nose!
Add a bit of warmth to your day and read through the newest issue of insideAESES. Inside you will find:
- A message from AESES president Chris McCann
- Details about the AESES Holiday Open House on December 9
- Photos from the Children’s Christmas Party
- The AESES 2023 proposed budget
- Ongoing union and member grievances
View the December issue and previous ones here.
Have a great holiday season and a Happy New Year!
Summer Greetings and Reflection on Canada Day
Thursday, June 30th, 2022
July 1st is Canada Day, the first day of the long weekend that starts off summer and provides us with a chance to enjoy time with family and friends. We have all endured a long, cold winter and very wet spring and have been rewarded with the start of our beautiful Manitoba summers. There have been many challenges over the past two years, and looking back at what we have accomplished, we can be proud. We deserve the opportunity to disconnect from work and enjoy our time.
Canada Day for many is an opportunity to celebrate our life in this nation and the rights and freedoms that we have worked hard to secure for ourselves and our fellow citizens. We also need to be respectful of Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis and their role in Canadian history. Our country was built on land its original inhabitants did not formally relinquish. Acknowledging this truth allows us to recognize the historic wrongs that continue to have an impact today.
To celebrate respectfully, I find wisdom in a quote from federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh from 2018 where he said “We cannot mark this day without a solemn and respectful acknowledgement of our history if we are to truly move towards reconciliation and justice. On this Canada Day, let us celebrate the values we continuously aim to aspire to, while remembering the past and committing to working for a brighter future for all.”
In working towards that brighter future, we acknowledge the historic injustices, but we must also be aware of current assaults on the rights and freedoms we value today. Unions and their members have been at the forefront of protecting the rights of workers and citizens in their communities. I encourage AESES members to stand up for the values they feel are important, share their voices and participate in making a difference.
I wish everyone a great and rejuvenating summer.
In Solidarity,
Chris McCann
AESES President