UMSU council notes

Unified, pick a side.

Chelse McKee, Staff

Due to the ongoing service-workers strike at the U of M, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union council biweekly meeting moved from its scheduled location of the Bannatyne campus to the University of Winnipeg’s student association boardroom. As well, Garry Sran mentioned in the beginning of the meeting that many of the council’s members did not want to cross the picket lines.

The meeting began with Rachel Gothliff, student representative for the faculty of music, requesting that a motion as to whether or not to support the unions on campus be discussed first.

The motion was specifically worded as UMSU will “support CAW Local 3007, UMFA, and CUPE 3909 and 1482, UMDCSA, and AESES, in securing fair wages and working conditions, job security, and academic freedom.”

Many councillors were in support of the motion, but some were wary.

Travis Friesen, student representative for the faculty of engineering, said that the unions don’t “involve a majority of students.” After some criticism from the council on his statement, Friesen re-emphasized that the unions do affect students; they just don’t involve students.

Councillors argued that one-third of graduate students at the University of Manitoba are members of CUPE 3909.

John Sopotiuk, student representative for University 1, said Friesen’s claim was “completely ridiculous. We are students, we are workers.”

He continued on to say that not taking a stand is equal to taking a stand with administration.

Friesen responded that, “UMSU should encourage good faith rather than take a side. Might doesn’t make right.”

After the debate on the motion was complete, a motion was carried for a roll-call vote. A roll-call vote is a recording of a representative’s individual vote rather than a majority result.

Many council members were nervous about their specific votes being on record but the motion for the roll-call vote was carried through, regardless.

After the roll-call vote, the motion to support the unions was carried.

During Mike Einarson’s vice-president (internal) report, Einarson that the new online tutor registry website, hosted by UMSU, University One, and the Learning Commons, is currently up and running. They are busy registering tutors into the system.

As well, UMSU has been working on a new health plan for First Nations students. Recently they have been discussing the idea with many people and seeing if the plan could be well received by First Nations communities.

Einarson said that the “response was generally good.”

During the committee’s report, it was announced that the health insurance plan committee is currently working to process late opt-outs for the present school year. They mentioned that the opt-outs will still be granted but with a $20 penalty fee. Students will be emailed when the re-imbursement checks are ready.

Also, the student-group committee SIGPAC announced at the meeting that they have approved 10 new student groups, as well as over 60 returning student groups.

Near the end of the meeting, Sran stepped down from his role as chair for the UMSU council. The new chair, Hal Brownlee, was voted in resoundingly as he was the only candidate.

Brownlee is currently majoring in political science with a minor in philosophy.

His opening words to council were, “I’ve already lost my minutes.”