Daily News

February 22, 2001

[img_inline align=”” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/newletter2.jpg”]University Letter Re: Extension of Freeze Period… see University MUSA talks continue for explanation of letter

February 22, 2001

This is the full, unedited text of an e-mail sent today to members of the McMaster University Staff Association from Ron Lodewyks, chair of the . . .

February 21, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/barber.jpg” caption=”D. Barber”]Board of Governors chair Doug Barber has been appointed to the position of Distinguished Professor-in-Residence in the Faculty of Engineering. The . . .

February 21, 2001

Bargaining teams for the University and the McMaster University Staff Association return to the table this afternoon. The talks will be conducted with a mediator present. In a letter sent to all employees today, University President Peter George said that he is "hopeful that the outstanding issues will be resolved and that a labour disruption will not occur." George writes that the University "must and can do a better job of creating a supportive, high-quality work environment" and that it is committed to making improvements. He also acknowledged that "mistakes have been made in the past which have created legitimate concerns." As of 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, MUSA may legally call for strike action, provided a strike vote has been taken with its membership and the result of that vote authorizes the union to call a strike. Once a strike vote is taken it would be possible for the union to call a strike at any time. Postscript: Today the University bargaining team distributed its job security and hours of work proposals to members of the McMaster University Staff Association. (END OF STORY)

February 21, 2001

The following information, provided by the University's bargaining team, is being distributed today to employees in the MUSA bargaining unit. Hours of Work McMaster University . . .

February 21, 2001

The following information, provided by the University's bargaining team, is being distributed today to employees in the MUSA bargaining unit. Job Security The University has . . .

February 19, 2001

The following items are highlights from the Feb. 14 Senate meeting: The Senate Executive Committee is considering a request for a task force to establish an environmental policy. Fourth-year students Michael Law and Kate Parizeau presented a proposal requesting a steering committee be set up to develop a policy. They asked that any proposed policy also be linked to curriculum focused on environmental studies. The classroom hotline has received 60 complaints to date, provost and vice-president academic Harvey Weingarten reported. There are 10 complaints that remain unresolved and they involve problems with clocks showing the incorrect time or rooms that are reported to be too cold, he said. Senate approved a proposal to establish a Communication Studies program in the Faculty of Humanities. The program will be offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences and will offer four streams: language and discourse, cultural studies, performance studies and mass communications. "This program takes a step towards creating the intellectual and pedagogical expertise needed on campus around communication," said Daniel Woolf, humanities dean, in a report to Senate. The Department of Computing & Software Engineering will be home to a new McMaster Software Quality Research Laboratory (SQRL).

February 19, 2001

This information is provided by the University's bargaining team. On December 14, 2000 the University presented an initial monetary offer to the McMaster University Staff . . .

February 19, 2001

Two joint University-MUSA sub-committees are meeting today to discuss contract issues relating to compensation and health and safety. These meetings support the process to secure . . .

February 16, 2001

McMaster is receiving almost $1 million from the provincial government's Accessibility Fund because it increased access to high-quality post-secondary programs during the past year. McMaster's portion of the $16.5 million Accessibility Fund is $.97 million. When the fund was announced in March 2000, the University anticipated receiving about $1 million for enrolment growth. Eight other universities are sharing money from the fund, said Brenda Elliott, minister of intergovernmental affairs on behalf of Dianne Cunningham, minister of training, colleges and universities. In order to receive money from this fund universities were required to increase or match their fall 1999 first-year admissions in fall 2000.

February 16, 2001

McMaster University is the first educational organization in the region to receive the United Way's Gallery of Distinction Award. The award is presented annually by the United Way of Burlington, Hamilton-Wentworth to an organization that has demonstrated long-term support for the United Way. Since the launch of its first campus campaign for the United Way in 1983, McMaster has contributed $2.3 million to the United Way. The award comes during a milestone year for the University's United Way campaign. For the first time since 1995, the University met and exceeded its campaign goal of $165,000. To date, a total of $171,000 has been raised.

February 15, 2001

The University has received a 'No Board' report from the Ministry of Labour which means that MUSA (McMaster University Staff Association) is in a legal position to strike 17 days after the issuing of the report, provided that a strike vote is held with its membership. This means that at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 27, MUSA may legally call for strike action, provided a strike vote has been taken with its membership and the result of that vote authorizes the union to call a strike. "MUSA and the University have agreed to return to the table," said Mark Haley, assistant vice-president, human resources and a member of the University's negotiating team. "We have tentatively agreed that the sub-committee discussing the classification system will resume its work on Monday and both bargaining teams will return to the table on Wednesday, Feb. 21 in the afternoon. The University has committed to remaining at the table around the clock and working hard to achieve an agreement. The union and the University have also asked that a mediator join us at the table. We believe that this assistance will be beneficial."

February 15, 2001

For a writer, life on campus means combining the best of two worlds. There are plenty of periods for quiet reflection, time for writing, space to think. There's also the opportunity to meet new and interesting people, discover new writing, teach and work as an editor giving feedback and helping others shape their work. Sandra Birdsell, this term's writer-in-residence for the Faculty of Humanities, says the role of the writer-in-residence provides the perfect mix. "Writing is such a quiet thing. We often work in track suits and nightgowns. It's a good balance to the kind of nature of our work which is so isolating. I find people very stimulating and there is a lot of material among people." Photo credit: Don Hall (1997) (Photo from Writers Union of Canada Web site)

February 15, 2001

Hamiltonian Jan Wade remembers her high school art classes with fondness. But she also recalls her experiences as a black youngster, attending grade school in . . .

February 15, 2001

The McMaster University Staff Association is increasing its membership fees. Effective today (Feb. 15) dues will increase to $12 monthly from the current $6.25. The . . .

February 13, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/geologists.jpg” caption=”C. Eyles and P. Meyer”]The recent Walkerton, Ontario crisis involving serious contamination of the town's drinking wells has focussed attention on the . . .

February 13, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/alderson1.jpg” caption=”Henrietta Alderson”]Henrietta Alderson was one of three founding faculty members who developed the (integrated) undergraduate nursing program at McMaster. Alderson died Dec. . . .

February 13, 2001

The Career Planning & Employment Centre is hosting its inaugural Summer Job Fair tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 14. About 35 employers from Hamilton and surrounding areas . . .

February 13, 2001

Negotiators for the McMaster University Staff Association are ready to go back to the bargaining table with the University as early as today (Tuesday, Feb. 13) to reach the first collective agreement between the two parties. "We've sent a message to them (the University's bargaining team) suggesting various dates and times, and we've indicated we're willing to do it as early as today. Today is the first day we offered," says MUSA president Barry Diacon. Yesterday (Monday, Feb. 12) 1,152 members of the association voted on a contract offer proposed by the University. Diacon says he's happy with the outcome of the vote, which saw 1,021 members reject the offer (and 129 vote in favour of it). There were two spoiled ballots. It's unlikely the two parties will be back at the table before next week. Mark Haley, assistant vice-president human resources and a member of the University's bargaining team, says that the parties need first to agree on a process for resuming negotiations. For example, a significant issue (for the administration) is the importance of involving a mediator; another is the wisdom of extending deadlines if progress is being made.

February 12, 2001

They are committed, enthusiastic, conscientious, professional staff whose exemplary service to the University has not gone unnoticed by those they work with and for. They are the winners of the President's Staff Awards for Outstanding Service and their names are: Steven Beierl, Susan Birnie, Marvin Gunderman, Doris Hutchison, Diane Kerss, Deane Maynard and Liza Thong. The seven staff members were nominated by co-workers, colleagues and supervisors for the annual awards, which recognize staff members or groups of staff members who have made an outstanding contribution beyond that normally expected for their positions to the mission of the University. "It is my pleasure to express to you, on behalf of the entire University, sincere congratulations for your achievement and for the very important and valued contributions you each make to McMaster," says University President Peter George. "By providing excellent service to students, by reaching out to neighbours through community work, by taking the time to care for others, and by working tirelessly for the betterment of McMaster you enhance the reputation of this University and provide an environment of excellence and success for all of us. To each of you I extend a very warm 'thank you.'"