October 2025
AESES Newsletter | insideAESES | October 2025 | Vol. 48 Issue No. 05
Dear Member,
Welcome to October! Here is our newest issue of insideAESES!
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insideAESES
President’s Message – October 2025
Hello, and a happy fall to all, fellow AESES members!
As we begin another academic year, I want to extend a warm welcome back to all our members. September always seems to bring a fresh sense of excitement and anticipation, along with energy and renewal. Whether you’ve been away on vacation, enjoying time with family, or simply chilling at home, I hope your summer brought rest and renewed energy. Now, as we step into the Fall Term, AESES continues to work in support and advocate for the issues that matter most to members.
We’re excited to offer several upcoming opportunities to connect and learn together. Our Brown Bag Session: Classification Administration, will provide members a chance to ask questions to our knowledgeable Labour Relations Team regarding how classifications are initially set and the process of getting reclassified. These sessions are always well attended and can show you how to ensure you’re being compensated appropriately!
As well, members should watch for announcements of additional Fall Education Seminars. We plan to offer archery, as well as an ice fishing outing – complete with instruction and participation. These educational sessions are a great opportunity to meet and connect with other members who share the same interests.
With apologies in advance (I know, I know – it’s only OCTOBER for crying out loud!), I feel I should also mention that planning is already underway for our Annual Children’s Winter Holiday Extravaganza! This event is a highlight of the year, bringing families together for an afternoon of fun, laughter, and celebration. While the snow hasn’t arrived (yet), it’s never too early to mark your calendars for November 30th and anticipate the joy this gathering brings to our AESES family. Learn more and register here!
With regard to bargaining, at The University of Winnipeg, bargaining is moving forward. With the Essential Services Agreement recently settled, the path is now clear to begin formal negotiations. This milestone is a significant one, and we will approach this process with the same diligence and determination that defines AESES’ work across both institutions.
Meanwhile, at the University of Manitoba, our Negotiation Committee has begun its important work. Meetings are currently taking place, and discussions will continue until the core bargaining proposals are finalized. Once this stage is complete, the smaller bargaining committee will be struck from the negotiations committee to carry forward the negotiations. These early steps are vital in setting the tone for bargaining, and we remain committed to ensuring that members’ voices and priorities guide every decision.
As always, we are reminded that the strength of AESES lies in its members – your contributions, insights, and willingness to stand together and support each other. Whether you join us at an educational outing, share your feedback at a Brown Bag Session, or attend the Children’s Winter Holiday Extravaganza or a Members’ Day Lunch, your involvement matters.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and support. All the best for a safe, happy, and productive Fall Term.
In Solidarity, 
Rob
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In memory of Jane Barske (1950 - 2025)
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Jane Barske, born November 16, 1950, passed away on August 26, 2025. Jane worked her entire career at The University of Winnipeg, starting in the print shop at 19, then moving to various departments and retiring as Communications/Records Manager in 2005, and was heavily involved with…
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Children's Winter Holiday Extravaganza
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The AESES Activities Committee is excited to announce the annual Children’s party!
Sunday, November 30, 1:00 – 4:00 pm - Comedy Illusions of Greg & Oonaugh
- Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at 2:30 pm
- Fort Garry Campus, MPR, 220-224
Deadline to register is November 3, 2025
The Committee is also looking for volunteers to help during the event.
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October 2025 Here are updates on active Association cases with each employer as of October 1, 2025.
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Martha Vilchis Caballero (UW) was appointed to the Activities Committee. Welcome Martha!
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AESES-UM Negotiation Committee
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The current Collective Agreement with the University of Manitoba is set to expire on March 27, 2026. A Negotiation Committee was recently formed, with the following members elected by acclamation as representatives to a position on the AESES-UM Negotiation Committee: Anoja Barham, Will Christie (District 6), Brendan Devlin, Robert Dvorski (District 7), Kevin Ferreira (District 5), Deanne Fulawka, Divjyot Grewal (District 3), Douglas Heinrichs, Kristofer Isaak, Alex McGregor (District 1), Kasey Morgan, Dave Nicholls (District 8), Riley Proulx, Antonietta Senkow, Karen Simpson (District 31), Frank Snare, Harley Stasiuk (District 4), Tony Wong, and Teddy Zegeye-Gebrehiwot (District 6). President: Rob Parker. AESES Business Office: Lorne Hilton, Daniel Matthes, Leanne Shumka, and Colleen Thompson.
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Visit our New Faces page to view the latest AESES hires for October 2025 at both universities, as reported to us by the University of Manitoba (UM) and The University of Winnipeg (UW). The lists include full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees.
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can you tell me
Can You Tell Me: What is a Position Discontinuance?
A Position Discontinuance refers to the removal of a particular job by the employer once they determine, for a variety of possible reasons, that it is no longer necessary. However, it is important to clarify for the member in the position that it is not the same as being fired or dismissed. A Position Discontinuance is about the removal of the job, not the member.
The Position Discontinuance process is described in Article 10 of both the AESES-UW and -UM Collective Agreements, and is similar but not exactly the same for each University. It begins when the employer provides written notice to the member that their position will be discontinued, notifies AESES, and schedules a meeting with the member and a union representative to discuss the process and the various options available through Article 10.
The notice period is 56 calendar days at UM and 40 working days at UW. During this period, the member continues to be paid normally, and may or may not continue to work. The primary goal during the notice period is to make the member whole by transferring them into a vacant job within the same classification, hours of work, and position category as the discontinued position. The member should also be able to perform the job with a minimal retraining period: 60 working days at UW, or 420 hours at UM. HR actively searches through job postings throughout the notice period to match these criteria.
If a transfer is not accomplished as outlined above, there are other choices and options available through Article 10. The details are similar between UW and UM, and also depend on the specific circumstances of the discontinued position. Some choices could include opting for the exercise of seniority or bumping, opting for severance based on the member’s seniority, either as a lump sum or biweekly payment period, or opting for a period of lay-off of up to a year in which the member retains their seniority.
A representative from AESES is available to the member for guidance starting from the initial Position Discontinuance meeting and throughout the process. The representative can help interpret the various decisions and their consequences provided under Article 10. AESES provides guidance and interpretation, but the choices are ultimately up to the member to make; there is no single, correct answer for every scenario.
AESES will always, furthermore, scrutinize the rationale provided by the employer when they discontinue a position. Legitimate reasons within the employer’s rights for discontinuing a position might include operational changes, organizational restructuring within a department, advances in technology, redundancy or reassignment of duties, expiry of grant funding, or budgetary constraints. AESES looks at each discontinuance on a case-by-case basis. It is important that AESES examines and understands the reason the decision was made in order to best inform and advise the member.
We encourage our members to reach out to the AESES Business Office with any questions or concerns related to the Position Discontinuance process or otherwise, at labourteam@aeses.ca or 204-949-5200.
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CCU
AESES Delegates Selected
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Tessa Petrychko (UM) and Sarah Steidl (UW) were randomly selected from all submissions to attend the Biennial Convention of Confederation of Canadian Unions in Ottawa as AESES Delegates. We look forward to read about their experience in the insideAESES December issue!
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CCU
CCU/CSC John St-Amand Bursary and Madeleine Parent Bursary
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The Confederation of Canadian Unions provides annual bursaries of $1,000 for dependent children of members of unions belonging to the CCU/CSC for the purpose of furthering their post-secondary education. Visit the John St-Amand / Madeleine Parent Bursary page to apply. The deadline is October 10, 2025.
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insideAESES
New Members, Union Dues, and Being a Signed Member
Welcome to the 497 new members from the beginning of this year! We are truly excited for you to join AESES because of your employment with the University of Manitoba, The University of Winnipeg or St. Andrew’s College.
Now that you are a member, you might have some questions about the union dues that are listed on your pay statement. Here’s the story behind how these dues were introduced, what it means to be a signed member and why they contribute to the strength of a union.
Union dues are deducted automatically from every unionized worker’s pay according to a legal precedent set in 1946 called the Rand Formula. The case involved a strike at a Ford auto manufacturing plant in Windsor, Ontario, by the United Auto Workers. Canadian Court Justice Ivan Rand acted as arbitrator in resolving the issues of the strike. As part of his remedies in the dispute, he established this practice of automatic deduction of dues from the wages of all workers in order to pay the union collectively. Prior to his decision, only signed union members paid dues, but non-members who did not pay still benefited from the union’s negotiated contract. Furthermore, the union had to approach signed members individually to collect dues monthly.
New AESES employees are often asked to become a signed member, and the distinction of signing membership may not be immediately clear. All AESES employees benefit from the provisions of the Collective Agreements negotiated with the employers, and therefore pay union dues, automatically deducted from their pay. Signed membership, however, is voluntary. Signing allows the member to participate fully in union activities (attend certain Association events, such as the annual Members’ Day Lunch, Children’s Winter Holiday Extravaganza, Spring and Fall Education Seminars, and the Annual General Meeting), hold roles on committees, and vote on collective decisions. This distinction ultimately derives from the Rand Formula and the precedent set in 1946.
AESES members currently contribute 1.00% of their gross pay as union dues, as per AESES By-Law 4.1 (PDF). This rate is among the lowest in Canada. These dues are the way in which members of our bargaining unit collectively fund the work and functions of the union. Your dues provide the necessary funds to retain legal counsel for grievances and arbitration, and to provide education to members. AESES has created a substantial Defence Fund in order to support economic action and to cover legal costs that may arise in our ongoing efforts to defend the rights of our members.
If you are interested in becoming a signed member, please visit our membership information page and submit a membership form.
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