[Fdu] Fwd: UTFA Elections

[p.fitting at utoronto.ca]

Dear Colleagues

Between now and 5th April we all have the opportunity to vote for the  
president of our professional association,UTFA.  I am writing to you  
to urge you at this very busy time of year to take the time to vote.

The conditions of this UTFA presidential election are unusual for two  
reasons.  First because the incumbent president has been in office for  
so long. And second because, while in the past there have been  
differences between contending candidates, this time the differences  
are very significant indeed. Scott Prudham, the current head of our  
bargaining team and a member of the Geography Department has been  
nominated by a broad spectrum of the faculty community. Donna Lossell,  
not hitherto an active member of UTFA, is a Senior Lecturer at the  
Rotman School and the entire list of her nominees are from Rotman.

What makes the major difference between them however is that Prudham,  
after a great deal of past experience in dealing with the university  
administration, is seeking to broaden the scope of issues that can be  
negotiated between UTFA and the university administration. Lossell in  
her message to faculty implies that the issue is whether or not UTFA  
should seek certification as a union.  This is definitely not in any  
way a component of Prudham's platform. It's a question of whether one  
wants a representative who thinks about us in terms of the work we  
contribute (or have contributed) to the university or in terms of  
management.

I urge you to read the respective statements by the candidates and -  
minimally - reflect on the relative merits of having an UTFA President  
from Arts and Science who represents a broad spectrum of our  
community, versus having one that represents the already growing  
weight of the professional schools in the future of the university.

And above all, I urge you to vote, preferably today while it's on your  
mind, but certainly before 5th April.

Many thanks for reading this.

Regards

Gavin

Gavin Smith
gavin.gav at gmail.com
Gavin Smith
gavin.gav at gmail.com




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P

Are you around???

I want to send this out to a bunch of people.  Maybe you could send it to the retirees and others that you have on your list.

Let me know if you're here and we'll go for a walk or a drink or both.

G

Dear Colleagues

Between now and 5th April we all have the opportunity to vote for the president of our professional association,UTFA.  I am writing to you to urge you at this very busy time of year to take the time to vote.

The conditions of this UTFA presidential election are unusual for two reasons.  First because the incumbent president has been in office for so long. And second because, while in the past there have been differences between contending candidates, this time the differences are very significant indeed. Scott Prudham, the current head of our bargaining team and a member of the Geography Department has been nominated by a broad spectrum of the faculty community. Donna Lossell, not hitherto an active member of UTFA, is a Senior Lecturer at the Rotman School and the entire list of her nominees are from Rotman. 

What makes the major difference between them however is that Prudham, after a great deal of past experience in dealing with the university administration, is seeking to broaden the scope of issues that can be negotiated between UTFA and the university administration. Lossell in her message to faculty implies that the issue is whether or not UTFA should seek certification as a union.  This is definitely not in any way a component of Prudham's platform. It's a question of whether one wants a representative who thinks about us in terms of the work we contribute (or have contributed) to the university or in terms of management.

I urge you to read the respective statements by the candidates and - minimally - reflect on the relative merits of having an UTFA President from Arts and Science who represents a broad spectrum of our community, versus having one that represents the already growing weight of the professional schools in the future of the university.

And above all, I urge you to vote, preferably today while it's on your mind, but certainly before 5th April.

Many thanks for reading this.

Regards

Gavin
   
Gavin Smith
gavin.gav at gmail.com
Gavin Smith
gavin.gav at gmail.com


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