I’m oddly pleased now before midterm and final exam season when administrators circulate the post exposure protocol as important information for instructors. Weird ways I’ve contributed to workplace health and safety.

Hot off the presses!

The UMFA member family splash pad event is back on Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m! Bring the kids, enjoy a coffee and a donut, and mingle with your colleagues at the Vimy Ridge Memorial Park spray pad. RSVP: [email protected].

Simon approves of the new panniers and the spring bike tune up. Ready for proper adventures now.

On the line representing @umfa-faum.bsky.social with other MFL affiliates supporting the Operating Engineers of Manitoba Local 987 as they wrap up week 4 of their strike. #solidarity

Blessing the exam solutions as I mark. I find numbers comforting too, Wednesday.

Given the rapidly evolving political landscape in the United States and reports of individuals encountering difficulties crossing the border, CAUT strongly recommends that academic staff travel to the U.S. only if essential and necessary. Read more: www.caut.ca/latest/2025/...

U of M scientists gather coast-to-coast support in call for federal research funding to fill gap left by Trump administration cuts www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews... With quotes from my colleague @acgerstein.bsky.social

www.caut.ca/latest/2025/... 'Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre released his party’s platform for the province, which included a promise to “end to the imposition of woke ideology in the federal civil service and in the allocation of federal funds for university research.”' [email protected]

Simon, your concern about the efficiency of my marking would be more credible if you didn’t keep pushing my laptop away to take over my lap.

Academics implore NDP to boost funding amid push to recruit U.S. researchers www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...

Last day of classes, done and dusted. On to project marking before the onslaught of exams. Not sure how this day comes so quickly every semester.

Final exams both submitted for printing. I feel like some sort of miracle worker.

Welcome MOFA (Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations)! And everyone give them a follow.

"Although the consequences of a yes or no answer are not spelled out, Mr. Robinson said the implications seem clear: Projects not compatible with the views of the U.S. government may lose their funding." Read more: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Very loud goose convention outside my office window. Must be spring!

It's time y'all!!!

Remember to hug your favourite mathematician today. Happy Pi Day!

Reminder to UMFA colleagues, ratification vote today! I’ll be stopping by to vote YES.

The MFL, in partnership with CCPA-MB is sponsoring a Winnipeg screening of the award-winning documentary film, UNION. The film chronicles the efforts of a group of warehouse workers as they launched a union campaign at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island. Use QR code to reserve your space.

Colleagues! Wednesday is our special general meeting ahead of Thursday's ratification vote. Come see the full details of the tentative agreement and have your clarifying questions answered.

A tentative agreement has been reached! UMFA members will find details in their email. #umfa2025

So very proud of everyone’s hard work and solidarity. In the last hours of the bargaining deadline, @umfa-faum.bsky.social reached a tentative agreement. UMFA colleagues check your email and watch out for more details of an SGM and vote later this week! #umfa2025

We hope we won’t need to use them, but if we do we’re ready for March 10 7a.m.!”. #fairdeal #UMFA2025 @umanitoba.bsky.social

CAUT is calling on York University to reverse plans to suspend enrolments in 20 academic programs at its Glendon and Keele campuses. Read more: www.caut.ca/latest/2025/...

Reading Week marking to the soundtrack of my cat making her "fierce huntress" noises as she vanquishes all the crinkly balls in the house. I can mark with peace of mind now.

One of the great things about teaching statistics is that I can do things like make 2/3 of my fourth year class test about Groundhog Day. I hope they love the holiday as much as I do.

The cats were very excited to learn that so many of my colleagues were asking about them at the voting table yesterday after their appearances on the Zoom at the Special General Meeting. Cats don't just help run the union behind the scenes.

UMFA Membership Authorizes Strike Vote. Cast your ballot February 5-7. #UMFA2025

I know what kind of Bison I am! The herd is a union!

Don’t forget to cast your strike authorization vote (today through Friday) in University Centre or the Brodie Centre. I got my YES vote in bright and early.

Wednesday will be at the @umfa-faum.bsky.social Special General Meeting this evening and wants to know if she can count on you too.

Reminder to my @umfa-faum.bsky.social colleagues that there’s a special general meeting this evening at 7:00. Check your inboxes for the zoom link sent this morning! #umfa2025

Happy Groundhog Day! What better way to celebrate than with sunshine and a call for an early spring from Manitoba Merv?

Restful Caturday wishes for all from Wednesday.

The sun is calling me today. After getting these notes fixed up, I need to go for a walk. And definitely, categorized as a need. I love that we still get beautiful winter sunshine.

Lots of support today for @umfa-faum.bsky.social outside the admin building making it known that we’re waiting for a fair deal that addresses faculty concerns. Remember to sign up for open bargaining tomorrow to see what admin brings to the table.

Remember @umfa-faum.bsky.social members, rally at the admin building at 12:00 today. Wear your toques, grab a sign, and show the administration you're serious about securing a contract that deals with inflationary loss to salaries and addresses workload concerns.

It’s been great speaking with students today about why bargaining affects them too. An investment in faculty is an investment in students. #UMFA2025

POV: Real talk at the table. Faculty connecting the dots — Our working conditions are your learning conditions. Learn more about this round of bargaining, and send a letter to the UM Board of Governors to tell them UMFA’s working conditions are important to you! win.newmode.net/umfa. #umfa2025

UMFA is in University Centre today talking to faculty, students, and staff about our current round of bargaining. To learn more and to show your support for bargaining, visit: win.newmode.net/umfa #umfa2025

It’s UMFA Visibility Day! Remember faculty to pull out your UMFA gear, posters, and pins to remind the administration that it’s time they made UMFA members a UM priority by getting bargaining finished with a contract that addresses salary, benefits, and workload. #UMFA2025 @umfa-faum.bsky.social

The first UMFA Craft Day of 2025 is happening Friday, January 31 at 1:30 p.m. in the UMFA Boardroom. RSVP to [email protected]. Bring whatever creative project you're working on!

Cats are excited I am back from vacation and working from home today. Expect excited cats in the background of any zoom meetings you're on with me today.

Why does my phone and computer's autocorrect hate the word Santa? Very inconvenient.

I’m feeling judged for marking instead of working out this morning. #pelocats