QUFA Digest February 2026

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Hello QUFA Members,

Please see the February 2026 edition of Digest below.

Bargaining Updates

  • Bargaining Town Halls: Check the info for the remaining Town Halls. Please RVSP to Elizabeth Polnicky at ep43@queensu.ca for the room number or Zoom link to attend the meeting. 
    • Feb. 9 – Nursing/Rehabilitation Therapy – Botterell – 12:30-2pm
    • Feb. 10 – Education – Duncan McArthur – 12:30-2:00pm
    • Feb. 11 – Humanities – MacCorry – 1:30-3:00pm

Deadlines and Notices

  • Tuition Support Plan: The Winter 2026 submission deadline is February 28, 2026. See Appendix N in the Collective Agreement and click here to access the application portal. Note: Please read the application guidelines carefully, especially the Important Changes notices. If you have any trouble with the Queen’s portal, please contact HR as QUFA cannot assist you with those issues.

Get Involved

  • The Adjourned General Meeting (continuation of the Fall General Meeting) is scheduled for March 3, 2026 at 1pm via Zoom. Please RVSP to Elizabeth Polnicky at ep43@queensu.ca for the Zoom link. The official notice will be sent 2 weeks in advance, and the agenda 1 week in advance.
  • Nominations and Elections Committee: As per QUFA Bylaw No. 1, Section A(i), QUFA is forming the Nominations and Elections Committee for 2026. There are positions reserved for members who are on neither the Executive Committee nor on the Council of Representatives. The Nominations Committee does much of its work via email and virtual meetings. Committee members reach out to potential candidates for election (at the Spring General Meeting), to the Executive, or respond to those who want more information to self-nominate. The work is time-limited to the January-April period. If you are interested in joining this committee, please send an email to qufaed@queensu.ca
  • QUFA Caucuses:
    • BIPOC Caucus: Supports and advocates for members who are Black, Indigenous, or racialized and/or visible minorities. It is organized to collectively discuss workplace matters specific to QUFA’s BIPOC members and work towards racial equity in our workplace. Contact Co-Chairs Ayca Tomac (ayca.tomac@queensu.ca) or Norma Möllers (norma.mollers@queensu.ca) for more info.
    • Caregivers Caucus: Connects members involved in care responsibilities (e.g., young children, seniors, family members with disabilities) to share experiences, concerns, and resources. Contact QUFA Political Action and Communications Committee (PACC) Chair Vanessa Thompson (vt25@queensu.ca) for more info.
    • New Faculty Caucus: Connects recently appointed faculty (up to 5 years) to share experiences and concerns pertinent to new faculty. Contact QUFA PACC Chair Vanessa Thompson (vt25@queensu.ca) for more info.

Solidarity Campaigns and Updates

  • LUFA Strike: As you know, members of the Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) have made significant sacrifices over the past few years after the institution declared insolvency under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA)Your colleagues at LUFA are asking for participation in a letter-writing campaign to help secure pensions, fair compensation, and manageable working conditions. You can participate at the following links: English and Français.
  • The Nipissing University Faculty Association (NUFA) Contract Academic Staff Bargaining Unit (CASBU) reached a tentative agreement with Nipissing University on January 30.

For Your Information

  • New Members: If you are a recent hire at Queen’s, you can fill out an Association Membership form here. To learn more about being a Member of the union Bargaining Unit and a Member of the Association, click here.
  • Please see QUFA Voices, Governance Watch, and Campus Conversations for updates on recent business and important issues.
  • Check our News & Events feed on the bottom of the website homepage for updates: www.qufa.ca
  • Visit QUFA on Facebook and Instagram.

Sincerely,

QUFA Staff