Get Involved
As a member run organization, ULFA depends on leadership from our members in a variety of ways. This could include volunteering for a one time event, to running for the Executive Committee, and everything in between. Elections for standing committees and various positions are typically held at the Annual General Meeting following the end of classes in April. We also email the membership about opportunities to get involved and post them here. If you have been thinking about getting more involved with ULFA, we have a role for you.
Current opportunities to get involved with ULFA!
Initial Call for Nominees 2025-2026
This is the initial call for nominations for ULFA Committees 2025-2026
NOMINATIONS ARE BEING SOUGHT IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES FOR THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR
For further information one these positions, please see the ULFA Bylaws.
Executive
One (1) President (2025-2026)
The President is the main advocate for the interests of ULFA Members, both to the Board of Governors and to the wider community, and also chairs the Executive Committee, which directs the affairs of the Association. The President is an ex-officio member of all the Standing Committees and on-call to deal with Member concerns as they arise. This is a serious time commitment but the President receives heavy course relief and the position brings rewards of its own, especially when the interests and concerns of Members are fully met.
One (1) VP/President Nominee (2025-2026)
One (1) Secretary/Treasurer (2025-2027)
One (1) Chair, Bargaining Resource Committee (2025-2027)
One (1) Chair, Job Action Committee (2025-2027)
One (1) Chair, Grievance Committee (2025-2027)
One (1) Chief Shop Steward Committee (2025-2027)
Bargaining Resource Committee
Minimally:
One (1) Professional Faculties Representative (2025-2027)
One (1) Professional Librarian (2025-2027)
The time commitment for this committee involves weekly meetings as well as some preparatory time for those involved with research activities or presentations for bargaining town halls.
Grievance Committee
Minimally:
Two (2) Arts & Science Representative (2024-2026)
One (1) Professional Faculties (2025-2027)
One (1) Instructor/Academic Assistants (2025-2027)
The ULFA Grievance Committee is responsible for addressing member concerns related to our ongoing relationship with the university as governed by the collective agreement. When a grievance is filed by a member the committee is responsible for providing guidance to ULFA Executive to address the complaint. This is a very rewarding committee in terms of assisting your colleagues. The committee meets for two hours every two weeks and there is some limited reviewing of documents in preparation for committee meetings.
Gender, Equity and Diversity Committee
Maximally:
Four (4) Members-at-Large
Shop Stewards Committee
Minimally:
One (1) Health Sciences (2025-2027)
One (1) Education (2025-2027)
One (1) Fine Arts (2025-2027)
One (1) Library (2025-2027)
One (1) General Member (2025-2027)
The Shop Stewards are responsible for facilitating communication between their respective academic units and the ULFA Executive. This includes sharing updates from the Executive with the membership, passing along critical feedback to the Executive, and being a trusted and informed union representative to whom Members can reach out when an issue occurs. Responsibilities include attending monthly meetings (potentially more regularly during negotiations), engaging in one-on-one discussions with colleagues as needed, and working with other ULFA committees to support our union’s goals. This role provides an excellent opportunity to become more informed about institutional ongoings, to connect with colleagues from across campus, and to provide meaningful support for colleagues in one’s academic unit.
For further information, please see the ULFA Bylaws.
Job Action Committee
One (1) A&S – Humanities and Social Sciences (2025-2027)
One (1) Library (2025-2027)
One (1) Education (2025-2027)
The committee will meet for 90-minute planning sessions once per month, and its various subcommittee Chairs would be pleased to welcome you to the team.
If assisting in the running of an effective job action, information pickets, rallies, and/or other ULFA-related events sounds appealing, and you imagine you’d enjoy working for the advancement of labour solidarity, please consider signing up for duty with JAC.
Study Leave Relocation Committee
Two (2) Representatives (2025-2027)
Faculty (STP) Appeals Committee (2025-2027)
Two (2) Representatives
Health & Safety Advisory Committee (2025-2027)
One (1) Representative
One (1) Alternate
Nominating Committee
One (1) Faculty of Health Sciences (2025-2027)
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If you are interested in running for any of the available positions, you are highly encouraged to complete the form to stand for this position by March 25th, 2024.
To validate any nomination, nominators (self or sponsored) must fill out and sign an online nomination form.
This nomination form includes a 200-400 word statement of interest, experience and qualification that will be included on the ballot.
For information regarding release time for ULFA Executive Committee Members, view the ULFA COURSE RELEASE POLICY.
Nominations are due by March 25th, 2024.
The ULFA AGM is tentatively set for Tuesday, April 22nd. Save the Date!
Elections will follow the AGM via e-ballot over one week.
Please note the recent ULFA Bylaw changes regarding nominations, including the requirement that nominees provide their signature and a 200-400 word statement of interest:
8.1.3.b To validate any nomination, nominators (self or sponsoring) will fill out and sign the online nomination form, where the nominee’s signature will serve as confirmation of willingness to stand for the position; and
8.1.3.c Nominees must also provide on this form a 200-400 word statement of interest, experience and qualification that will be included on the ballot.
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Current ULFA Committee Vacancies
ULFA is currently looking to fill a number of vacant committee positions. We encourage Members with interest in any of the following areas to step forward. Please contact Aaron Chubb, ULFA Executive Director at ed@ulfa.ca to express interest.
The following ULFA Committees and Working Groups are looking for additional interested Members:
Workload Working Group
ULFA has a Joint Workload Working Group whose terms are set out here.
ULFA also has an internal Workload Working Group that acts as a resource body for the joint group. We are actively looking for Members from all areas of the University who are interested in contributing to this committee to join. The committee will typically meet every three weeks.
Ad-Hoc ULFA Bylaw Review Committee
The ULFA Executive Committee is forming an Ad-Hoc Bylaw Review Committee with the purpose of providing amendments to the ULFA Bylaws at the ULFA Fall General Meeting to streamline the organization while maintaining transparency and democratic practices. The Executive is seeking three Members, who are not currently on the ULFA Executive, to sit on this review committee with members of the ULFA Executive.
The committee will be composed as follows:
Three (3) Members-at-large
ULFA President
ULFA Executive Director
One (1) Former Executive Committee member
Ad-Hoc ULFA Course Release Policy Review Committee
The ULFA Executive Committee is forming an Ad-Hoc Course Release Policy Review Committee with the purpose of providing amendments to the ULFA Course Release Policy. The purpose of this ad-hoc committee is to provide a report on how the course release policy could be written to maintain fairness and to recognize the various workloads placed upon ULFA Executive and pertinent committee members.
The committee will be composed as follows:
Three (3) Members-at-large
ULFA Past-President
ULFA Treasurer
ULFA Executive Director
Bargaining Resource Committee (BRC)
The Bargaining Resource Committee is an investigative, deliberative and advisory body whose proper sphere of action includes all matters relating to collective bargaining of the terms and conditions of employment of the Membership. Members should be knowledgeable (or interested in becoming knowledgeable) about the collective agreement and related matters, i.e., other collective agreements, labour law, the requirements of good faith bargaining, duty of fair representation, and procedural fairness. BRC has no maximum number of Members, so ULFA Members in all areas who are interested in joining BRC are welcome.
Grievance Committee
The Grievance Committee upholds the integrity of the Academic Staff Collective Agreement (ASCA) by investigating and ensuring that its terms are followed. Members should be knowledgeable (or interested in becoming knowledgeable) about the collective agreement and related matters, i.e. other collective agreements, labour law, rights arbitration, requirements of the duty of fair representation and procedural fairness.
The Grievance Committee is currently looking for Members to fill the following constituency roles:
One Member from Arts & Science
One Member from the Professional Faculties.
Shop Stewards
There will be Shop Stewards elected for a two (2) year term from amongst the Membership. The Shop Stewards will act as Steward for their assigned department/area. Members should be knowledgeable (or interested in becoming knowledgeable) about the collective agreement and applicable legislation.
There is no maximum number of Stewards. We are currently seeking interested Members from all areas, including at least one Member from each of the following Faculties:
Dhillon School of Business,
Education, and
Fine Arts
Job Action Committee
The Job Action Committee (JAC) shall be the regulatory committee tasked with fulfilling the logistical duties associated with conducting job action (such as lockout or strike) in compliance with ULFA’s Job Action Policy. Members should be knowledgeable (or interested in becoming knowledgeable) about job action and related matters, i.e., labour laws and rights, the Labour Relations Code, etc. Elected members shall serve for the period during which the Committee is active until such time that a new collective agreement is ratified.
There is no maximum number of Member on the Job Action Committee. We are currently seeking interested Members from all areas, including at least one Member from each of the following Faculties:
Arts & Science,
Health Sciences, and
Education
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Please note: These are current vacancies. A list of upcoming vacancies for the 2025-2026 academic year will be forthcoming.
