Steps taken by SAFA and what you, as a SAFA member, can do in response to messages about potential job losses
Faculty Colleagues,
The SAFA Executive has been hard at work since SAIT’s announcements of deep cuts and their consequences. This is just the first of many communications as we work though this complex process.
What SAFA Executive is working on:
- In a meeting with SAIT Employee Services this week, I made it clear that SAIT and SAFA must work together to mitigate, as best we can, the devastating impact these cuts will have on Faculty. In addition, I emphasized that SAFA will make sure that the process outlined in our Collective Agreement’s Section 13- Abolishment of positions is followed.
- In my meeting with Dr. Ross, Thursday March 5, I reiterated the concern of the membership about the clarity of the objectives in the scheduled downsizing plan.
- I will also be meeting with the minister of Advanced Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, in Edmonton on Friday, March 19. Presidents of other post-secondary institutes will join me in the meeting to express the common concern of our membership regarding the consequences of the scheduled budget cut.
What can SAFA Membership do?
- Attend a special meeting, Thursday March 12 @ 4:15 pm in the 4Nines and bring a colleague.
- If you can’t attend the meeting, contact your SAFA Division Representative or Faculty Council Representative with any questions, suggestions, etc.
- Provide an alternative email address to SAFA to ensure uninterrupted communications in the future.
- Contact your MLA to express to them the impacts these losses will have on students’ quality of education. Let them know how your life, and that of students, will be impacted.
We know this time is one of great uncertainty and encourage our Faculty to utilize the available free counselling services of the Employee Family Assistance Program (Lifeworks) – 1-844-671-3327, which is available 24/7. As we move forward together, please feel free to contact me or other members of SAFA as needed.
In solidarity,