Dillon Hall

University, faculty ratify collective agreement

The University of Windsor and the Windsor University Faculty Association have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The new three-year agreement is effective July 1, 2014, and covers faculty, librarians, academic ancillary staff, sessional lecturers and sessional instructors.

The new agreement provides for an average increase of 8.9 percent over three years based on annual scale adjustments of 0 percent, 0 percent, 3 percent and Progression through the Ranks (PTR) payments of $2550, $2550, and $2650. Under the new agreement, PTR for associate and full professors will be reduced to 50 percent of the normal rate when a member’s salary reaches 1.75x the salary floor for their rank, and to 0 percent when their salary reaches 2x the salary floor.

WUFA members will also receive annual Windsor Salary Standard adjustments to ensure that salaries within each rank remain at the median within the province. Members will also receive lump sum payments of $1250 in each of the first two years. Sessional instructors will see their stipend per course increased to $8000.

Changes to the pension plan will see member contributions increase from 8 percent to 9 percent in the third year of the agreement. In addition, so long as a member continues to be actively employed and up until the time that they are required by law to commence receiving a pension (age 71), they will be required to contribute to the plan.

“I want to thank the members of both bargaining teams for their exceptional efforts to achieve a new collective agreement that will help position the University for the future,” said UWindsor president Alan Wildeman. “We have outstanding and dedicated educators across the University of Windsor, creating a learning and research environment of which we can all be proud.”

Karen McLellan and Ted LamontLocal musicians Karen McLellan and Ted Lamont of Front Row Cello will entertain during Sunday’s Books and Brunch session at the Art Gallery of Windsor.

UWindsor faculty among BookFest featured authors

A number of UWindsor instructors are on the program for the literary festival BookFest Windsor, October 23 to 26.

Louis Cabri, Tom Dilworth, Marty Gervais, Dale Jacobs, Karl Jirgens and Marissa Reaume will be among the presenters and Saturday’s schedule concludes with a tribute to the life and literary legacy of late professor Alistair MacLeod.

The Campus Bookstore will be on-site as the official bookseller Saturday and Sunday.

Find more information, including a full list of events, on the festival website.

a violin, clarinet and piano keyboardThe Faculty Trio will combine the talents of Gregory Butler, Trevor Pittman and Lillian Scheirich in concert Sunday.

Faculty trio to be joined by guest vocalist for Sunday concert

The Faculty Trio will expand by one for its concert Sunday, October 26. Soprano Lesley Andrew will join fellow music instructors Gregory Butler on piano, Trevor Pittman on clarinet and Lillian Scheirich on violin in performance at Mackenzie Hall Cultural Centre.

The program includes Pittman and Butler presenting Robert Schumann’s Three Fantasy Pieces, joined by Andrew for Franz Schubert’s The Shepherd on the Rock, Scheirich and Bulter continuing the Schubert with his Sonatinas Op. 137 Nos. 2 and 3, and concluding with the Faculty Trio performing the Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano by Gian Carlo Menotti.

Tickets are $15, with a student rate of $5, available in advance by phoning 519-253-3000, ext. 4212.

The show goes on at 7 p.m. Mackenzie Hall is located at 3277 Sandwich Street West.

Martin Deck congratulates Chris HadfieldCampus Bookstore marketing coordinator Martin Deck congratulates Chris Hadfield on his supersonic book-selling speed in this photo by Laura Wall.

Astronaut’s Windsor appearance launches book sales

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield conquered two new worlds—those of music and literature—during his visit to Windsor this past weekend, says Martin Deck, marketing coordinator for the Campus Bookstore.

Col. Hadfield joined the Windsor Symphony Orchestra at the Capitol Theatre for performances of songs he composed while in space, and the bookstore sold signed copies of his books in the lobby.

“We had 600 copies of his brand-new photo book You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes, and 200 copies of his recently re-issued An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth,” Deck says. “All the books sold out before the end of the final performance on Sunday!”

Not to worry, he adds: the Campus Bookstore has more on order, and will stock unsigned copies for sale again soon.

Symposium and dinner to celebrate law clinic’s 40th anniversary

A symposium and dinner will celebrate 40 years of advocacy by Legal Assistance of Windsor on Saturday, October 25.

The afternoon symposium, in the law school’s Moot Court, will feature a panel discussion with:

  • Maude Barlow, national chair of the Council of Canadians;
  • Loly Rico, president of the Canadian Council for Refugees;
  • Lenny Abramowicz, executive director of the Association of Community Legal Clinics of Ontario; and
  • Ken Lewenza Sr., past national president of the Canadian Auto Workers union.

The dinner will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and dinner served at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts. Find more information on the celebration on the Windsor Law website.

Caramel and candy applesCaramel and candy apples make a tempting dessert at the annual Faculty and Staff Hallowe’en Social.

Apples to tempt revellers at Hallowe’en social

Fun holiday foods will greet party-goers at the annual UWindsor Faculty and Staff Hallowe’en Social on Friday, October 31, in Vanier Hall’s Winclare A.

Sweet candy and caramel apples will join a pizza lunch and a chocolate fountain on the day’s menu, says special events organizer Mary-Ann Rennie.

“We think people will really enjoy having these classic fall treats,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to offer something different.”

Sponsored by the president’s office, the event will include a door prize draw and judged prizes for best individual and group costumes. It runs noon to 1:15 p.m. and is free for all University of Windsor employees.