Governance

Membership

Decision-making authority for WUFA policy and action rests with the members. All major issues – expenditures, bargaining proposals, ratification of collective agreements, strike action, and changes in union dues -- are debated and voted on by the membership at large. The Association holds two General Membership Meetings a year (October and April), and will call Special Membership Meetings as needed. WUFA Council is authorized to act on behalf of the membership between meetings. All faculty, librarians, and AAS staff are encouraged to join the Association and participate in its activities.

Faculty Council                

Faculty Council is composed of faculty, librarians, AAS, and sessional members elected annually by their colleagues in proportion to the size of the constituency they represent. Council meets monthly to discuss matters affecting the Association, develop new policies, review reports, create and elect committees, and act on behalf of the Association between general membership meetings.  Members of the Executive are automatically members of Faculty Council. Councillors are responsible for informing their colleagues about WUFA business and bringing members’ concerns to the attention of the Association.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is an elected committee of Chief Officers of the Association who act on behalf of WUFA, subject to the direction of the WUFA Faculty Council and the general membership.  The main function of the Executive is to implement the general policies of the Association and act as daily liaison between the Association and other persons/organizations as required.   The Executive Committee is directed by the Council, and governed by the Constitution and Bylaws.

Executive Committee 2024-2025

Constitution and Bylaws

The activities of the Faculty Association are governed by its Constitution and Bylaws. The Constitution sets out the aims of the Association; forms of membership; purpose, responsibilities, and composition of committees; meeting schedules; and the process for determining membership dues. The Bylaws elaborate these themes, and describe the procedure for ratification of collective agreements and taking and ending strike action.  Amendments may be proposed by members at any time. They are discussed at membership meetings, then, ratified by the membership at large by mail ballot. Changes to the Constitution require a two-thirds majority; changes to the Bylaws require a simple majority of ballots cast.

Policies, Practices and Procedures

WUFA’s Policies, Practices and Procedures handbook codifies how the Association implements the Constitution and Bylaws.

WUFA's External Communications Policy (approved by Faculty Council June 2022) is found here: External Communications Policy

WUFA's Guide to Civil Discourse on Social Media (approved by Faculty Council September 2023) is found here: A Guide to Civil Discourse on Social Media

Rules of Order

WUFA meetings follow the Association's Rules of Order handbook and are supplemented Bourinot's Rules of Order, to foster full and free discussion at General Membership Meetings and meetings of Council, Executive and Committees.

Harassment and Violence Policies for WUFA Employees

WUFA is committed to the prevention of harassment and violence in the workplace and will take whatever steps are reasonable to protect its employees. WUFA and its employees are expected to uphold the WUFA Harassment Prevention Policy and the WUFA Violence Prevention Policy.