Posts Tagged ‘president’
President’s Message – April 2026
Wednesday, April 1st, 2026
As I prepare my second and final message for insideAESES, I’ve been thinking about the whirlwind of the last few months. When the AESES Board of Representatives voted me in this past January to complete the current term ending in May, I knew it would be a busy stretch. It has certainly lived up to that, bringing its share of concerns and challenges, but also plenty of laughter and camaraderie along the way.
I want to share that I will not be seeking re-election for the Presidency or any other positions on the AESES Executive Council this May. While my time in this new role was short, I will truly miss working so closely with our members, the Board, and the AESES Business Office staff.
Bargaining Updates Success is a team effort! In February, The University of Winnipeg support staff voted to approve their new contract. A huge thank you goes out to the UW Bargaining Team and the AESES Business Office staff for the tireless work to reach this agreement. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Meanwhile, the University of Manitoba Bargaining Team is moving forward with proposals vetted by the Negotiations Committee. While I am writing this in March, by the time this reaches you in April, a membership meeting will have been scheduled to approve the final list of proposals for the UM. Please attend the meeting if you can.
Committee Highlights and Upcoming Events A big thank you to the Activities Committee for hosting such a successful Cosmic Glow Bowling in March and it was wonderful to see our members connecting. Looking ahead, the Education Committee is hard at work finalizing the Spring Education Seminars, and the dates for our Members’ Day Lunches have been set. Lunch details will follow, but please plan to join us on campus:
- The University of Winnipeg: May 5
- University of Manitoba – Bannatyne Campus: May 11
- University of Manitoba – Fort Garry Campus: May 20
Annual General Meeting (AGM) I encourage you to attend our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, April 14. The AGM will be held virtually, and an email was sent out last week with notice about the availability of the AGM report and registration details. This is the best opportunity for our members to hear financial reports, review updates from our standing committees, and ask important questions about the direction of AESES.
Please keep an eye on your email or our website for more information about all these upcoming events. Thank you for your ongoing support.
In Solidarity,
Karen
President’s Message – February 2026
Sunday, February 1st, 2026
As I sit down at the computer to compose my first Message from the President for insideAESES, I find myself reflecting on the significant changes that have come my way since I began my term as Executive Vice-President in May 2024. After serving two terms as Interim President, I am honoured to have been voted into the role of President for the remainder of this term, ending May 2026.
I would like to take a moment to thank Rob Parker for his 20 plus years of dedication to AESES. Having served as a Board member, Contract Administrator, member of various committees and most recently as President, Rob’s tireless work on behalf of our members will not be forgotten. His insight and commitment will be greatly missed.
January was a time of cold reflection, warm hot chocolate and time well spent with family and friends as we endure yet another Winnipeg winter anticipating warmer days ahead. While the weather is cold, the work within AESES remains as active as ever.
The Education Committee and Activities Committee are gearing up for another great year of fun and educational events that our members can attend. Watch your email and aeses.ca in the coming months for details.
Our Labour Relations Team remains extremely busy ensuring your workplace concerns are heard and your rights are protected from your employer. If you feel your rights under the collective agreement have been compromised, please reach out to labourteam@aeses.ca. As always, all dealings with the AESES Business Office are strictly confidential.
The University of Winnipeg has concluded bargaining sessions with the employer and that AESES should have a contract offer to present to AESES-UW members in the upcoming weeks. For the University of Manitoba, the Negotiations Committee has been hard at work, vetting numerous proposals submitted by you, our members. We will soon schedule a AESES-UM membership meeting to approve the final list of proposals. Watch your email for further details about these important meetings. As Rob noted in his final President’s message, AESES stands firm in our commitment to securing strong, fair collective agreements.
In Solidarity,
Karen
AESES Announces New President – Karen Simpson
Thursday, January 15th, 2026
At the January 13, 2026, meeting of the AESES Board of Representatives, Karen Simpson was elected by acclamation for the position of President on the Executive Council for the term ending May 2026.
Karen has worked for the University of Manitoba, Bannatyne Campus for 44 years, starting in the Computer Department and currently with the Department of Psychiatry.
Karen recently held the roles of Interim President, Executive VP and VP Bannatyne, and was previously Secretary in May 2022-2024. Karen joined the AESES Board of Representatives in 2018 and has contributed in a number of capacities over the years, including serving on the Ad Hoc COVID Assistance Fund and Education Committees.
Karen is a dedicated, loyal and hardworking individual who is committed to the betterment of our members and looks forward to working with the Executive Council, Board of Representatives and the AESES Business Office staff in her new role.
Over the coming weeks, Karen will begin to adjust to the permanent role and their duties with the AESES Business Office. Welcome, Karen!
As a result, the roles as Exec VP and VP Bannatyne were vacated. Divjyot Grewal was elected as Executive VP (and remains VP Fort Garry campus). Danielle Saj was elected as VP Bannatyne campus. We congratulate Divjyot with their additional role and welcome Danielle to the Executive Council.
Each role’s term will end at the May 2026 Board meeting, once the new Board of Representatives and Executive Council is elected.
Thank you to our members for your patience and support during this period of change. We appreciate it.
Resignation of Rob Parker, AESES President
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025
The AESES Executive Council would like to share that Rob Parker has stepped down from his role as President and from his committee positions effective December 2, 2025. Rob has been an incredible asset to AESES, serving as President since September 2024 and contributing meaningfully in several capacities over the years, including in his work as UM Contract Administrator. His dedication, leadership, and commitment to supporting our members have had a lasting and positive impact on the organization.
Rob will be greatly missed, and we extend our sincere gratitude for his service and our very best wishes as he moves forward.
During this transition period, our Executive Vice-President, Karen Simpson, will serve as interim President. The Executive Council and AESES Business Office will continue to support members and carry out the work of the union without interruption. Further information about next steps will be shared with the membership as it becomes available.
In solidarity,
AESES Executive Council
President’s Message – December 2025
Monday, December 1st, 2025
Greetings, awesome AESES Members, and welcome to December – also known as “the month where we pretend we’re organized.”
The holiday season brings thoughts of family, whether near or far. And at holiday time, every family is a little loud, messy, and occasionally wonders who ate the last Quality Street (spoiler: it was absolutely someone in HR). Our union family is no different – we debate, we disagree, but when it matters most, we show up for one another. That’s what unions do. And ours does it pretty darn well.
For some of us, “home” means a packed living room full of relatives and one very confused dog. For others, it’s a phone call, a video chat, or sharing a moment across oceans and time zones. For many AESES members, it’s right here… on campus, in the office, in the classroom -standing shoulder to shoulder with coworkers who long ago stopped being “colleagues” and started being “the people who understand your workday horrors better than your actual family.”
Our membership includes folks from every background imaginable—different races, genders, languages, identities, faiths, and traditions. Some light candles. Some decorate trees. Some celebrate holidays at times the rest of us are unaware. Some celebrate by ignoring the holidays entirely and catching up on sleep (a noble and underrated custom).
We all share universal hopes – things like safety at work, dignity and respect, fair wages, and most importantly, time with the people we love and a future that is not just “surviving until Friday.”
Diversity isn’t a challenge – it’s our superpower. If the employer ever tries to divide us, they quickly discover it’s like trying to separate Tupperware lids from the containers: good luck, friend.
We’ve started or soon will start bargaining at both Universities. Together, we’re pushing for:
- Better wages, so members can enjoy the holidays without needing a spreadsheet to calculate gift affordability.
- Better benefits, so no one must choose between seeing a doctor and paying rent.
- Safer workplaces, so everyone goes home in one piece and not “creatively patched together with office supplies.”
Behind every bargaining proposal is a real person with a real family and real worries. A parent trying to say “yes” to a school trip. A worker caring for their aging parents. A member simply trying to make it through December without Windows updating at the worst possible moment (miracles do happen).
This season isn’t easy for everyone. Some members face illness, financial strain, grief, or isolation. A strong union family doesn’t forget them. We check in. We help. We make sure no one is left behind – because solidarity is more than chants and picket signs. It’s everyday acts of kindness, like sharing overtime fairly or welcoming a new co-worker instead of forcing them to find every elf on a shelf we’ve hidden in the Dean’s Office.
We don’t all experience the workplace the same way. Some members face racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or barriers due to disability or immigration status. Ignoring those realities doesn’t make us a family – it makes us a sitcom family that pretends everything’s fine while the house is literally on fire.
Listening, making space, and standing up for one another is what makes us strong. It is so important to:
- Honour our families – however they are made. We must keep fighting for the wages, protections, and time needed to care for them.
- Celebrate our diversity – not just in words, but in action, policy, contracts, and leadership.
- Live our solidarity – by supporting members who are struggling and showing up for one another with open hearts (and maybe baked goods).
In a world that tries hard to divide working people, let’s continue proving the opposite: that people with different stories can share one purpose and one fight.
Now, to wrap things up (see what I did there?)
Thank you for everything you do.
Thank you for the strength you bring.
And thank you for making AESES not just a union, but a family— … you know, the kind you might actually want to spend time with.
Wishing you peace, joy, good eats, cool treats, and time with the people (and pets) you love.
Here’s to new victories in the year ahead – won together, as one diverse and powerful union family.
I hope you all have a very happy holiday!
In Solidarity,
Rob
President’s Message – October 2025
Wednesday, October 1st, 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. Registration details are found in this issue of insideAESES.
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
Letter of Support for UMFA – November 2, 2021
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021
November 2, 2021
President Orvie Dingwall
University of Manitoba Faculty Association
100-29 Dysart Road
Winnipeg, MB
R3T 2M7
Dear Orvie,
AESES is disturbed that the Manitoba Conservative government continues to interfere in free and fair collective bargaining at the University of Manitoba through the PSSA and continued wage restraint mandates. We agree that this continued intrusion has created a great amount of damage to the university community through demoralization of all staff and interruptions to students’ learning. It is time for the university administration to stand up to the Manitoba government to defend its community.
AESES stands in solidarity with UMFA in their fight to be able to freely bargain a fair contract with the University of Manitoba.
In solidarity,
Laurie R. Morris
President
AESES