Archive for the ‘News Feed’ Category
AESES-UW Membership Meeting, May 29, 2025, at 5:30 pm
Thursday, May 15th, 2025
We invite all of our members at The University of Winnipeg to attend an upcoming membership meeting on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 5:30 pm via Zoom.
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!
Welcome, Daniel Matthes!
Monday, April 7th, 2025
Daniel Matthes has joined the AESES Business Office as a new Member Services Officer, excited for a fresh challenge. Before this move, he was the Public Services Coordinator for The University of Winnipeg (UW) Archives, and leaves behind a 21-year career in the UW Library, at the Archives since 2010. Daniel is also an alumnus of The UW with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in English and Theatre and, in another life, was involved in independent theatre and film productions around the city.
At the UW Archives, Daniel worked with researchers from around the world and has processed a wide variety of archival records, ranging from those of former MP and President of UW Lloyd Axworthy, Distinguished Alumna Delza Longman, former Artistic Director of the Royal MTC Steven Schipper, to activist filmmaker Victor Dobchuk. The Archives hold other important records related to Labour Studies, including the papers of labour activist and former CUPE President Paul Moist and that of the social justice coalition CHO!CES. The Archives even possess some records from the early days of AESES at the UW!
Daniel’s experience working with AESES began in 2014 as the Board Representative for District 55. Since then, he has served on the Classification Committee, three times on the Negotiation Committee, on the COVID-19 Assistance Fund, and part of the Bargaining Team for UW’s 2019-2025 Collective Agreement. The fulcrum of his commitment to AESES developed when he attended the CCU’s 50th Anniversary Convention in October 2019, meeting a diversity of union members from across Canada, learning the history of the CCU, hearing the Labour School speakers, and appreciating the importance of unions on a new level. This understanding of AESES’ important work, deepening over time, is what inspired him to apply for this position.
At the AESES Business Office, Daniel will be joining and supporting the Labour Relations Team, consisting of Colleen Thompson, Executive Director; Lorne Hilton, Labour Relations Officer; and Leanne Shumka, Member Services Officer. He feels grateful and energized in this new role and looks forward to being able to work with and directly help the membership.
Welcome Daniel!
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.
Spring Education Seminars – Registration Now Open!
Friday, March 14th, 2025
We have a large selection of seminars taking place in April, May and June which include:
Brew Kombucha at Home (Virtual)Easter Egg Decorating (Pysanka)Learn Ballroom DancingFULLPaint NightFULLWooden Spoon CarvingFULL- Cooking with Nancy – Palak Paneer
- Labour Relations – Exploring Union-Employer Negotiations (Virtual)
- Labour Relations – Fundamentals of Discipline (Virtual)
Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Walk 2025
Wednesday, February 19th, 2025
Thank you for your donations! We raised $1590!
Join us as we honour the legacy of our beloved former president, Chris McCann, by continuing the tradition he started: participating in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk on Saturday, February 22, 2025. This marks our third year supporting this cause, and Chris McCann’s Crew: Team AESES is walking in his memory to raise funds for St. Boniface Street Links. Help us celebrate Chris’s dedication to helping others by contributing to this meaningful cause.
Team donations can be made here until March 31, 2025.
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
Can You Tell Me: How Seniority Plays a Role in Vacancy Selections
Monday, February 3rd, 2025
Seniority and Vacancy Selections
Seniority may play a significant role in vacancy selections, as outlined in the collective agreements of both the University of Manitoba (UM) and the University of Winnipeg (UW). Specifically, Article 6.3 of these agreements mandates that employees with greater seniority be given preference in filling vacancies, provided their qualifications are “relatively equal” to those of less senior candidates.
The term “relatively equal” refers to the need for qualifications to be sufficiently comparable, rather than identical. For instance, if a position requires an undergraduate degree and two years of experience, a senior employee with a comparable combination of education and experience should be given preference. The core consideration is that the qualifications must be demonstrably relevant to the role in question.
In situations where a junior employee holds higher qualifications, but these qualifications are not directly applicable to the position, the senior employee’s qualifications—more aligned with the role’s requirements—should take precedence. However, seniority preference does not imply that a senior employee will be automatically overlooked if a junior employee holds qualifications that are more directly suited to the position due to prior experience in a similar role. Ultimately, the priority remains on the relevance of an applicant’s qualifications to the specific requirements of the position.
The collective agreements mandate transparency in the selection process. If a junior applicant is selected over a more senior candidate, the employer might expect a request to provide a rationale for the decision, as outlined in Article 6.3.1 at the UM and Article 6.6 at the UW. Senior applicants have the right to discuss these reasons with the relevant administrator, and the union may request access to this information through Human Resources.
Should a grievance arise regarding the selection, the appointment is deemed temporary until the grievance is resolved. If the grievance results in a reversal of the decision, the employee initially appointed will return to their prior position or a comparable vacancy, as per Article 6.3.4 at UM or Article 6.6.1 at UW.
If concerns arise regarding the application of seniority or qualifications, AESES can provide support and clarification. A good first step would be to start by asking the hiring manager for the rationale and, if insufficient, follow up with the AESES Labour Team at LabourTeam@aeses.ca. Phone calls can also be directed to the Business Office at 204-949-5200.