Daily News

University and MUSA return to bargaining table

The University and the McMaster University Staff Association will resume negotiations this morning with the assistance of the mediator. "On Wednesday the University told the mediator it wished to bargain on Friday, March 23, and then from Monday through Thursday of next week," says Alan Harrison, a member of the University's bargaining team. "We're pleased that MUSA and the mediator have agreed to the first date that we offered." The University also suggested that the next round of bargaining first deal with issues that MUSA has indicated are among its main concerns. They include grievance and arbitration procedures, job postings, seniority, redundancy and displacement, and hours of work. Discussion of wages and the salary grid would then resume. Harrison is hopeful that MUSA will agree to extend negotiations into next week. The communications blackout on the last round of negotiations expired at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning.

posted on March 21: Investing in Students Task Force releases report

Improved public accountability and service for students are among the key recommendations of "Portals and Pathways", the report of the Investing in Students Task Force, which was released March 20. The report to the minister of training, colleges and universities contains 33 recommendations that could help Ontario's post-secondary education system improve accessibility for students, increase accountability to taxpayers and increase effectiveness. Established in September 2000, the Investing in Students Task Force was given the mandate to study the administrative operations of Ontario's post-secondary institutions and recommend ways to ensure that students continue to have access to affordable, high-quality education in the 21st century. Recommendations for improved student service included: * creating a seamless transfer system to allow students to move easily from one form of postsecondary education to another * developing a single window of information for students considering applying for postsecondary education * simplifying and co-ordinating student financial assistance policies * encouraging the collaborative development of e-learning programs The Task Force also recommended that colleges and universities promote open and transparent public accountability by publishing an annual report containing information about their mission, key strategies and accomplishments, audited financial statements, and outcomes on performance indicators. To view the full text of the ministry release, click here See also: University task force urges mass cash bailout (END OF STORY)