Archive for the ‘News Feed’ Category
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.
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.
Nominations for AESES Board of Representatives
Monday, February 3rd, 2025
According to AESES’ Constitution, the highest authority for deciding policies and managing the affairs of the Association is the membership of the Association. For administrative purposes, the membership is divided geographically into Districts. Between General Meetings, the management, direction and control of the affairs of the Association, including control over the Association’s funds, properties, other assets and raising of revenue, is vested in the Board of Representatives. Members of the Board of Representatives are elected from the membership. The Executive Council is then elected from the Board.
In terms of responsibilities, members of the Board of Representatives are to maintain a liaison with their District membership and act on their behalf at meetings. Board members sometimes act as officials of the Association in problem-solving and grievances, etc.
A nomination form for the Board for the forthcoming two-year term (May 2026 – April 2028) is found below. If you are aware of a member in your District who you feel would represent you well in this capacity, please nominate them. Be sure to obtain their signature and that of one other member on the nomination form.
Incumbent representatives must also submit their nomination form as each Board Representative is elected for a two-year term. If these members are also serving on the Association’s Electoral and Districting Committee, they must resign from it if they wish their names to stand for nomination to the Board. View the AESES District list here.
Please note that only signed AESES members may nominate, be nominated, or vote. Although dues are collected from all AESES support staff, they are only conferred full membership rights after they have signed a membership form, in accordance with Labour Law. Visit aeses.ca/membership to fill out a membership form.
Please note: we will accept emails from nominators if printing and signing the nomination form presents an issue due to working remotely. The email does need to come directly from the nominator and sent to the AESES Business Office at aeses@aeses.ca.
Happy holidays and office closure
Thursday, December 19th, 2024
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
From on our walls to in our hearts, wishing you a joyful and relaxed holiday season. Best wishes for 2025!
Season’s Greetings from Rob, Lisa, Colleen, Lorne, Leanne, Judy, Blair, and Joey
Please note: Our office will be closed December 23, 2024 – January 1, 2025, and will reopen on January 2.
insideAESES – December 2024
Tuesday, December 10th, 2024
Welcome to December and in a blink of an eye we will be in 2025! But before we think ahead to the new year, let’s enjoy the upcoming winter break! Here’s our December issue, which lives on the website just like our October issue. We are still deciding on what works the best for our members, so there still 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 – There are no contract admin updates for either university.
- AESES Appointments – December 2024
- New Faces
- 2025 Proposed Budget
- Can You Tell Me? Modified Work Hours
- Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Walk 2025 – Donate to Chris McCann’s Crew: Team AESES!
- AESES 2024 Children’s Winter Holiday Extravaganza
- Members Events, Community Events and Initiatives
Enjoy the winter break!
AESES Announces New Executive Director – Colleen Thompson
Friday, November 8th, 2024
The Executive Director Hiring Committee is pleased and excited to announce that Colleen Thompson is the successful candidate in our search for a new Executive Director.
As most of you will know, over the last six years of employment with AESES, Colleen has become an important member of our Labour Relations Team and a crucial member of our outstanding business office staff. Her knowledge of our collective agreements and bargaining processes as well as her experience with appeals, grievances, and championing our membership is extensive.
Before joining the University of Manitoba, Colleen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria. During her time with Security Services, she served as an AESES Board Representative, contributed to numerous committees, and held a position on the Executive Council as the UM Contract Administrator. Colleen’s deep understanding of AESES operations and knowledge of university dynamics will serve her well as she takes on this leadership role. Her longstanding commitment to our members and dedication to the university community reflect a passion for fostering growth and support across AESES and the University of Manitoba, The University of Winnipeg, and St. Andrew’s College.
As President of AESES, I rely heavily on the support and direction provided by the Executive Director, and I’m confident Colleen will be an exceptional colleague to work with. Colleen is currently shifting into the role with Lisa’s help.
A thank you also goes out to the hiring committee (Robert Dvorski, Joan Duesterdiek, and Karen Simpson) for their excellent work and to Lisa McKendry for her patience and superb guidance in the process!
Please join the hiring committee and me in congratulating Colleen on her exciting new role at AESES!
Rob Parker
AESES President