Thursday, July 29, 1993

TALKS WITH FACULTY:  There was another negotiating session this morning
between UW management and a negotiating team from the faculty association,
aiming at a Social Contract agreement.  But word is that the parties 
are far apart, and with the government's deadline being this weekend, it
seems likely that management will impose a "fail-safe" settlement for the
1993-94 year.  The Social Contract Act still allows talks (with a March 1
deadline) aimed at an agreement for 1994-95 and 1995-96.

Some 150 members of the faculty association crowded into Physics 145
yesterday afternoon for a general meeting, at which Ian Macdonald, heading
the association's negotiating team, gave his description of events so far.
The members present voted their support for the association's central
demand, which is that the May 1, 1993, pay increase originally promised to 
faculty members should go ahead.  The association also wants "progress
through the ranks" increases maintained not just for 1993 but for the
next two years as well.  Macdonald described a series of proposals and
counter-proposals, over the past few weeks, about possible delays and
partial reductions of these increases, but the general principle that
faculty members are "entitled" to the May 1 hike remains firm.

Macdonald and his negotiating colleagues argue that the university can
afford the increases they're asking for, paying for them from a new
student "ancillary fee" (starting in 1994) and savings of as much as $10 
million from downsizing through retirements and "voluntary exits".  There
would also be unpaid days off, possibly 7.5 this year and fewer in the
next two years.

The response from provost Jim Kalbfleisch and the management negotiators
is that the cuts Macdonald is proposing mean a huge shrinkage for UW, which 
can't be planned quickly.  Even with the salary freeze (which staff have 
already agreed to), and budget cuts announced for 1993-94, Kalbfleisch 
is predicting a need to trim $3 million from the annual budget by 1996.

If the university imposes the "fail-safe" position of cancelling the May 1
increase (and giving each faculty and staff member three days of unpaid
leave each year), faculty salaries will lose 17 per cent in purchasing
power by 1996, Macdonald calculates.  Even with the faculty association's
proposal, there would be a 4 per cent "erosion", he said.

EARLY RETIREMENT:  In case anybody missed it, here's a reminder that (to
help with the budget-trimming) the "renewal" early retirement programs have
been extended.  Faculty and staff now have until November 1, postponed
from September 1, to apply for early retirement (by September 1 of next
year).  Those aged 60, with 20 years of UW employment, are eligible
automatically; those aged 55, with 15 years of employment, are eligible
if their departments can use their departure as an opportunity for
restructuring and reducing the number of people on the payroll.

DON'T FEED DUCKS:  So says Brian O'Riley, UW's grounds supervisor, echoing
a request being made this summer by the city of Waterloo.  "Ducks require
a healthy diet of vegetation and water insects," say the experts, and 
feeding them your leftover potato chips encourages dependency, spreads
duck disease, and increases water pollution.  Cross another activity off
the "harmless pleasure" list.

Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs
credmond@watserv1    ext. 3004