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Dear Department of Plant Science Graduate Students,
The Plant Science Graduate Students Association (PSGSA) has voted in favor of standing in solidarity with our professors, lecturers, and librarians in the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) while they continue their bargaining process.
The PSGSA has chosen to stand in solidarity with UMFA for the benefit of their members, our graduate students, and the entire University of Manitoba (U of M) student body as a whole.
We acknowledge that members of UMFA conveyed great concern around competitive wages, denial of salary increases in accordance with the rising cost of living, and interrupted bargaining processes due to government interference. As plant science graduate students at the University of Manitoba, we firmly believe that the employment conditions of all faculty members affect the quality of education we receive and academic quality that the university can attract and maintain.
PSGSA looks forward to a fair deal being reached between University of Manitoba administration and UMFA as the negative implications of a strike on student education are apparent. PSGSA hopes for a fair deal between U of M administration and UMFA so that U of M students can receive the quality of education that they deserve.
We encourage our students to stay directly informed on negotiation developments and familiarize themselves with both parties’ positions to form their own educated opinion:
* https://umanitoba.ca/bargaining/ * http://www.umfa.ca/ * https://umanitoba.ca/strike-information/
We are also here for you during this time, and you may reach out to any of our members (contacts listed below). As well, although some campus supports may experience disruption, we encourage you to visit the following links to ensure you practice self-care and positive mental health during this stressful time.
Help Centre: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1367&top=15%23s... Student Counselling Centre: https://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/counselling-resources/students Spiritual Services: https://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/spiritual-services Continuing Courses: https://umanitoba.ca/registrar/continuing-courses Student Supports: https://umanitoba.ca/students-supports
PSGSA Executive Team (feel free to reach out to anyone listed below): President: Sonia Wilson (wilson44@myumanitoba.ca) Vice-President: Uzzal Ahmed Liton (litommua@myumanitoba.ca)
Treasurer/Dept Council Rep 1: Hao Lu (luuh2@myumanitoba.ca)
Social Director 1: Samantha Curtis (curtiss@myumanitoba.ca)
Social Director 2: Dale Penner (penner47@myumanitoba.ca)
Seminar Committee Rep: Lakmini Pathiranage (rathnayl@myumanitoba.ca)
UMGSA Rep 1: Jacob Kolody (kolodyj@myumanitoba.ca)
UMGSA rep 2/Safety Committee Rep: Ehsanul Haq (haqme@myumanitoba.ca)
Outreach Coordinator 1: Caroline Brown (brownc7@myumanitoba.ca)
Outreach Coordinator 2: James De Castro (decastr4@myumanitoba.ca)
In solidarity, Plant Science Graduate Students Association
