Table of Contents (all issues in this volume)Main index |
EDITORIAL PAGE |
Do Retirees Have Clout?
Retirees' Concerns: In these editorial columns many matters affecting the retirees' - pension, benefits , services and facilities at the University of Windsor have been reviewed, discussed and/or criticised. However we never had a strong voice or forum to vent our concerns and seek redress. Presently, the Faculty Association regards us a Honorary members and represents our interests in matters of Pensions and Benefits - not a priority item with them, but understandable. We cannot afford to be at the mercy of others.
In 1990, a group of retired members (Bill Phillips, Ralph Cowan and Norm Shklov) took the initiative and formed the Retirees' Association for Faculty and Librarians (membership around 100). The Retirees Newsletter was launched in 1991. Both the Association and the Newsletter evolved over the years. In the Fall of 1997, the Association was expanded to include those Administrators who are also on the Faculty & Librarian Pension Plan. Now by July 1, 1998, we will have 250 members whose distribution is as follows.
Faculty 224
Librarian 10
Assumption 3
Administrator 13
By the year 2002, we may be over 300 members, which is more than half of the active faculty and librarians. Yet, we do not have an independent voice to speak to our issues.
The Retirees' Handbook, on page 2, para 2 states "The Retirees' Association has representatives on the Faculty Association's Retirement and Benefits Committee in the persons of Norm Shklov, Bill Phillips and Pat Flood. The Faculty Association requires that these members of that Committee be retirees, thereby providing an exceptionally valuable avenue for conveying retirees' views to the Association and relaying developments on the front line back to our membership"
While the spirit of the above paragraph is splendid, the implementation of that commitment has been less than desirable. The Retirees' general membership recognizing the need to assert their role, passed a resolution at the Spring General Meeting to seek direct voting membership on Committees that deal with Retirees' issues.
It is absolutely imperative that we seek this voice and also examine the treatment of retirees by other organizations such as the Auto Companies - Chrysler etc, Hiram Walkers, Ontario Hydro and Union Gas. University retirees should be able to receive similar benefits and status that retirees of the above organizations enjoy..
In making the above assertion, the intent is not to engage in confrontation, but to impress the Faculty
Association Council and Executive and the University of Windsor Administration to re-examine the
current situation. The Retirees who have collectively served the institution thousands of years deserve better - in
that their concerns and needs are heard directly from their representatives at the table than through intermediaries.
Datta Pillay
| The Association
The Retirees' Association (Faculty, Librarian, Administrator) at Windsor was formed in 1990, to give a unified voice to retirees; to provide a bridge for communication with the University; to encourage social contact among the retirees; and to open a few doors through which retirees could continue to contribute to the University of Windsor. Thus the Association is meant to fill what could otherwise be a void in the lives of retirees - possible isolation from the University and from their former colleagues; and possible lack of understanding of vital pension and health issues that affect them directly. There are only two meetings of the full membership per year: in the spring and the fall. An informal social committee arranges several other events per year - dinners, plays, picnics, and so on -all of which are paid for by those who take part. The Association encourages smaller special interest groups to form as occasion and their interests warrant. Because of extreme economy of operation, dues have been kept at the level of $10 per year. This includes five issues of The Retirees' Newsletter . Officers of the Association are: President: Kumar Chatterjee Elected Members of the Executive Committee: Bob Chandler, Gerard Monforton, Joseph Habowsky, Terry Parkinson Ex Officio Members: Immediate Past President: Edwin Habib Committee Chairs: Social Committee: John LaGaipa The Association's Address is: Faculty/Librarian Retirees' Association, Email: pillay@server.uwindsor.ca Home Page: http://www.uwindsor.ca/newsstnd/uwflra/index.html Newsletter online: http://www.uwindsor.ca/newsstnd/uwflra/news.htm |