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. You can contact the Executive Director, Aaron Chubb at ed@ulfa.ca to learn more about upcoming opportunities. If you have been thinking about getting more involved with ULFA, we have a role for you!

Spring 2023: Current opportunities to get involved with ULFA!

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. Contact information for each chair is listed below.

These upcoming vacancies will be voted upon via e-ballot over one week following the 2023 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, April 11th from 11:00am-2:00pm. Please note that recent Bylaw changes mean that the role of President (in addition to Vice-President) is up for election every year, but incumbents are encouraged to run again. Members are invited to either self-nominate or be nominated by another Member. Time commitments can widely vary between positions and committees, with course releases available for the most time consuming roles such as the Executive Committee positions. At minimum, committee members, who are not Chairs, are expected to attend bi-weekly meetings. Article 5 of the Collective Agreement has it that ULFA service counts as service in performance evaluations. Please direct any questions to Aaron Chubb, ULFA Executive Director at ed@ulfa.ca; or Kristine Alexander, Chair of the Nominations Committee, at kristine.alexander@uleth.ca.

Nominations of members of marginalized groups are encouraged, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples; women; racialized academic staff; academic staff with disabilities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and two-spirited academic staff plus (+).
The nomination deadline is Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 in order to appear on the initial Nominating Committee report, i.e. the preliminary ballot, for the AGM Agenda. Please note that nominations will also be accepted between this deadline up to and including from the floor of the AGM. To validate any nomination, nominators (self or sponsored) must fill out and sign an online nomination formThis 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.

Upcoming Vacancies – Nominations are being sought in the following categories:
For more information about these positions please follow the links provided below in each header, and see the ULFA Bylaws Terms of Reference.

Executive Committee

One (1) President (2023-2024)
One (1) VP/President Nominee (2023-2024
One (1) Secretary/Treasurer (2023-2024)
One (1) Chair, Bargaining Resource Committee (2023-2025)
One (1) Chair, Job Action Committee (2023-2025)
One (1) Chair, Grievance Committee (2023-2025)
One (1) Chief Shop Steward (2023-2025)

Bargaining Resource Committee

One (1) Chair, Bargaining Resource Committee (2023-2025) (see Executive, above)
One (1) Chief Shop Steward (2023-2025) (see Executive, above)
One (1) Education (professional faculties) Representative (2023-2025)
One (1) Professional Librarian (2023-2025)

Grievance Committee

One (1) Chair, Grievance Committee (2023-2025) (See Executive, above)
One (1) Chief Shop Steward (2023-2025) (see Executive, above)
Two (2)  Professional Faculties Representatives (2023-2025)
One (1) Instructor/Academic Assistant Representative (2023-2025)

Gender, Equity and Diversity Committee

Four (4) Members (2023-2025)

Shop Stewards Committee

One (1) Chief Shop Steward (2023-2025) (see Executive, above)
One (1) A&S (Science) Representative (2023-2025)
One (1) A&S (Humanities and Social Sciences) Representative (2023-2025)
One (1) Health Sciences Representative (2023-2025)
One (1) Education Representative (2023-2025)
Two (2) Fine Arts Representatives (2023-2025)
One (1) Calgary Campus Representative (2023-2025)
One (1) Library Representative (2023-2025)
One (1) General Member (2023-2025)
One (1) Equity Steward (2023-2025)

Job Action Committee

One (1) Job Action Chair (2023-2025) (See Executive, above)
One (1) A&S (Sciences)
One (1) A&S (Humanities and Social Sciences) Representative
One (1) Fine Arts Representative
One (1) Health Sciences Representative
One (1) Dhillon School of Business Representative
One (1) Library Representative
One (1) Education Representative 
One (1) Calgary Campus Representative
One (1) General Member-at-large

Study Leave Relocation Committee

Two (2) Representatives (2023-2025)

STP Appeals Committee

One (1) Non-voting Member (see 25.11 of the Academic Staff Collective Agreement)
One (1) Alternate

Health and Safety Advisory Committee

One (1) Member (2023-2025)
One (1) Alternate (2023-2025)

Nominating Committee

One (1) Equity Steward (2023-2025) (see Shop Stewards Committee, above)

Outgoing contacts of the Standing Committees:

Bargaining Resource Committee Chair (outgoing), Rob Sutherland: brcchair@ulfa.ca, or robert.sutherland@uleth.ca

Grievance Committee Chair (outgoing), Mary Runte: grievancechair@ulfa.ca, or mary.runte@uleth.ca 
Shop Stewards Committee Chair (outgoing) Jerimy Cunningham: chiefsteward@ulfa.ca, or jerimy.cunningham@uleth.ca

Gender, Equity and Diversity Committee Chair (continuing) Beth Gerwin: gedcchair@ulfa.ca, or beth.gerwin@uleth.ca
Job Action Committee Chair (outgoing), Ken Vos: k.vos@uleth.ca

ULFA is a Member run union, we rely on the engagement of our Members to build YOUR union!

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.