Table of Contents
- APUO Seeks Representatives for Two Occupational Health and Safety Committees
- Protecting Our Public Institutions
- CUPE 2626 Memo to Supervisors
- Solidarity with Ukraine
APUO Seeks Representatives for Two Occupational Health and Safety Committees
The University of Ottawa has a number of Functional Occupational Health and Safety Committees (FOHSC) in addition to the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC).
The APUO is currently looking for representatives to fill vacancies for:
- Office Functional Occupational Health and Safety Committee: One vacant seat
This committee is responsible for examining computer laboratories, offices, classrooms, pools, common areas, kitchens, arenas, libraries, auditoriums, and any other space that is not within the mandates of other committees.
- Facilities and Protection Functional Occupational Health and Safety Committee: One vacant seat
This committee is responsible for examining university spaces that are not within a specific building (e.g., parking lots, underground parking, grounds and University‐owned roadways, outer building walls) as well as locations used by staff from Protection Service or Facilities but which are usually not accessible by the public (e.g., the tunnel, electrical and mechanical rooms, housekeeping area, roofs, loading docks, confined spaces, etc.).
Each committee meets once or twice per semester, and members are provided with online training to assist them in carrying out their duties in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
For additional information, see the Health and Safety Committees webpage.
Please contact the APUO at apuo@uottawa.ca to apply.
Protecting Our Public Institutions
Last year, Laurentian University suffered devastating cuts to more than 60 programs, of which 41 were offered in French – a violation of the French Language Services Act (FLSA) according to French Language Services Commissioner Kelly Burke.
The elimination of these programs was a direct consequence of the Laurentian administration’s decision to seek court protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). As the first public university to use the CCAA and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA), Laurentian’s administration has set a dangerous precedent, using laws written for the private sector to dictate the operations of public institutions.
In an effort to prevent any such future action, OCUFA has launched a virtual action tool through which members can ask the federal government to include a reform of these laws in the next federal budget. Such reform would prevent other public institutions from suffering the same fate as Laurentian University.
CUPE 2626 Memo to Supervisors
Our colleagues at CUPE 2626 have shared with us a Memo to Supervisors for APUO members who supervise student employees who are members represented by CUPE 2626.
This Memo sets out the evaluation process for CUPE 2626 student employees, and the responsibilities of supervisors when completing these evaluations.
Please contact the APUO if you have any questions about the memo.
Solidarity with Ukraine
The APUO joins the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) and Education International in condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and in expressing solidarity with Ukrainians.
APUO has donated $2,000 to Education International, a Global Union Federation of teachers’ organizations and other education workers. Education International works closely with its Ukrainian member organizations, the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine (TUESWU) and the Free Trade Union of Education and Science of Ukraine (VPONU). Together, these organizations work to support students, teachers, and other workers in the education sector in Ukraine.