Committees

NASA Committees are one of the most critical ways that our union provides services to its members, and are one of the main ways that members can get more involved in their union.

The bylaws stipulate that NASA will have eight standing committees, and empowers the executive board to establish ad hoc committees as required.

Standing Committees

NASA has established the following standing committees: The term of office for each standing committee is two years, and elections are held to coincide with the term of office of the committee chair, meaning that there are elections for the following committees in even-numbered years: Finance Committee; Grievance Committee; Political Action and Member Education Committee; Bylaws and Policy Committee, and elections for the following committees in odd-numbered years: Membership Services Committee; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Committee; Human Resources Committee; Award Committee.

The NASA president sits on all committees an an ex officio member.

Finance Committee

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Finance Committee is to:

a) make recommendations regarding the proper administration of the finances of the Association;
b) ensure that expenditures are lawfully made;
c) recommend to the Executive Board the transfer of budget allocations;
d) ensure that a proper and complete record of the financial affairs of the Association is accurately maintained at
all times;
e) make recommendations to the Treasurer in respect to the investments of the funds of the Association;
f) review the proposed annual budget and amend or modify that budget;
g) present, through its Chair, a proposed annual budget to the Executive Board;
h) present the proposed annual budget as approved by the Executive Board to the Annual General Meeting; and
i) review major expenditures not provided for in the approved annual budget or which do not pertain to current negotiations and make recommendations regarding same to the Executive Board.

2024-2026 Finance Committee Members:

Cassandra Van Essen

Committee Chair

treasurer@nasaunion.ca

Farhaat Abdulla

Chesceri Mason Gafuik

Jamie Hunwick

Hasul Kim

Grace Tshakatumba

There is currently one vacancy on this committee. If you are interested in volunteering with the committee, please contact the NASA Office by email at nasa@nasaunion.ca or by phone at 780-439-3181 or 1-877-439-3111.

Grievance Committee

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Grievance Committee is to:

a) hear member appeals with respect to the filing of grievances; and
b) determine which grievances will be advanced to arbitration.

2024-2026 Grievance Committee Members:

Adam Akkari

Committee Chair

grievance@nasaunion.ca

Hasul Kim

Kelly McDonagh

Vice-Chair

Anita Reff

Jeff Ripley

Chas Robertson

Charlene Scharf

There are currently no vacancies on this committee.

Membership Services Committee

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Membership Services Committee is to:

a) propose and implement methods to increase membership in the Association;
b) promote the general welfare of the members of the Association;
c) propose and implement member education programs designed to increase awareness of the Association’s and general labour movement’s history in order to enhance participation in the Association;
d) propose and ensure implementation of Association Social events; and
e) propose and implement membership reward programs.

The membership services committee is always looking for new ideas and card-carrying NASA members are always welcome to attend monthly meetings. Please contact tamara.phiri@nasaunion.ca if you would like to be a guest.

2025-2027 Membership Services Committee Members:

Scott Evans

Committee Chair

msc@nasaunion.ca

Melanie Kulczycki

Angie Thomas

Vice-Chair

Mirela Tomuta

Christianne Ussher

Elizabeth VanLinden

Jo-Anna Wohlgemuth

Political Action & Member Education Committee

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Political Action & Member Education Committee (PAC) is to:

a) promote the education of members of the Association;
b) recommend to the Executive Board priorities regarding political action and education relating to political matters affecting members;
c) encourage and promote the social action and political participation of members in order to further the interests of the Association;
d) act on behalf of members in matters of concern to them relating to the political process;
e) establish, with the approval of the Executive Board, ad hoc committees for specific campaigns; and
f) recommend policies and procedures to the Executive Board with respect to member education.

2024-2026 Political Action & Member Education Committee Members:

Fairfax Culpepper

Committee Chair

pac@nasaunion.ca

Chris Bateman

Zainish Hashmi

Vice-Chair

Kirk McKenzie

Carrie Millar

Mirela Tomuta

Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee (EDI) is to:

a) advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion on campus and promote solutions and improvements;
b) build, foster and maintain relationships with equity seeking groups on campus and support their events;
c) propose and implement member education programs designed to increase awareness of equity, diversity, inclusion issues on campus and in society;
d) recommend to the Executive Board priorities regarding equity, diversity, inclusion matters affecting members; and
e) recommend policies and procedures to the Executive Board with respect to equity, diversity and inclusion.

2025-2027 Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee Members:

Vacant

Committee Chair

edi@nasaunion.ca

Miya Abe

Ishaan Sachdeva

Vice-Chair

Toni Cossu

Joanna Gye

Allison Hadley

Priyanka Mittapelly

There are currently no vacancies on this committee.

Human Resources Committee

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Human Resources Committee is to:

a) recommend to the Executive Board proposals for collective bargaining with the employees’ union;
b) recommend to the Executive Board changes to the staff complement of the Association;
c) participate with the Executive Board in the recruitment, selection and evaluation of the Director of Operations;
d) assist the Director of Operations with the recruitment and selection of new employees; and
e) assist with other human resources issues as requested by the Director of Operations.

2025 - 2027 Human Resources Committee Members:

Elisa Snyder

Committee Chair

hr@nasaunion.ca

Diep Do

Sophia Ho

Navita Kalra

Insoo Park

Chris Penny

Javad Soleimani

There are currently no vacancies on this committee. If you are interested in volunteering with the committee, please contact the NASA Office by email at nasa@nasaunion.ca or by phone at 780-439-3181 or 1-877-439-3111.

Bylaws and Policy Committee

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Bylaws and Policy Committee is to:

a) review from time to time the Bylaws of the Association and may recommend amendments to same;
b) advise on questions relating to the Bylaws;
c) receive and process all special resolutions recommending changes to the Bylaws for presentation at General Meetings; and
d) on its own volition or upon referral to it, review the polices of the Association, consult with appropriate bodies, and make recommendations for amendment[s] to the Executive Board.

2024-2026 Bylaws and Policy Committee Members:

Jeff Papineau

Committee Chair

secretary@nasaunion.ca

Elizabeth Adolf

Ishaan Sachdeva

Vice-Chair

Tonia Harris

Shenin Mehnaj

Priyanka Mittapelly

Award Committee

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Award Committee is to:

a) administer the awards the Association provides; and
b) consider the possibility of future awards and recommend same to the Executive Board.

2025 - 2027 Award Committee Members:

Chelsea Butler

Committee Chair

vp@nasaunion.ca

Rachel De Leon

Traci Grams

Navita Kalra

Priyanka Mittapelly

Javad Soleimani

There are currently three vacancies on this committee. If you are interested in volunteering with the committee, please contact the NASA Office by email at nasa@nasaunion.ca or by phone at 780-439-3181 or 1-877-439-3111.

Ad Hoc Committees:

NASA currently has two ad hoc committees:

Dues Review Committee

NASA has now established an ad hoc Dues Review Committee to comply with this motion:

In May 2017, the NASA membership approved a motion to set union dues at the current flat rate of 0.9% of base income phased in over a five-year period. The motion also mandated that “a new dues review will be conducted in 2022 and every five years thereafter” to determine if dues are set at the appropriate level to fund NASA operations and fund targets as approved by the membership.

Dues Review Committee Members:

Quinn Benders

Chair

Elizabeth Adolf

Shenin Mehnaj

Health and Safety Working Group

As outlined in the NASA bylaws, the role of the Health and Safety Committee is to:

a. advocate for safe working conditions on all campuses and worksites;
b. promote awareness of workplace health and safety issues affecting members and support continuous improvements in workplace health and safety;
c. build, foster, and maintain relationships with NASA members on departmental/faculty health & safety committees;
d. build, foster, and maintain relationships with applicable external health & safety organizations (i.e. AWHC, AFL, OH&S Committee);
e. propose and coordinate member education programs designed to increase awareness of the importance of physical and psychological health & safety and health and safety rights;
f. recommend to the Executive Board priorities regarding health & safety matters affecting members;
g. recommend health & safety language for bargaining;
h. recommend policies and procedures to the Executive Board regarding health & safety;
i. track health & safety stats for NASA members to track trends and indicate areas of concern and improvement;
j. promote the general welfare of the members of the Association; and
k. work with other NASA committees, as applicable, to engage and educate the membership.

2025-2027 Health and Safety Committee Members:

David Patten

Commitee Chair

hs@nasaunion.ca

Danusia Bialowas

Nick Green

Monika Igali

Marie-Danielle Lemm

Emma Paterson

Sheeraz Rahman

Charlene Scharf

Jen Stogowski

Thi Lao To

University and External Committees:

In addition, NASA is also responsible for filling support staff vacancies on a number of university and external committees/bodies. The collective agreement also mandates NASA representation on a number of joint committees with the university.

For more information, or if you are interested in volunteering with one of NASA’s committees, please contact the NASA office by email at nasa@nasaunion.ca or by phone at 780.439.3181 or 1.877.439.3111.

These committees include:

University of Alberta Committees

NASA is responsible for filling support staff vacancies on a number of university committees/bodies. NASA is represented on the following University of Alberta committees:

Board of Governors:

Ishaan Sachdeva

General Faculties Council (GFC):

Kyle Foster

Rebecca Saul

Senate:

Gavin Palmer

Patrick von Hauff

University of Alberta Safety and Security Committee (UASSC):

Quinn Benders

Integrating Equity Group:

Quinn Benders

Corinne Williams

Community Connections Awards:

Elizabeth Adolf

University Support Staff Research Enhancement Award:

Javad Soleimani

Joint Health and Safety Committee:

David Patten

Terry Sway (NASA LRO)

(NASA LRO)

Collective Agreement Committees

The collective agreement mandates NASA representation on a number of joint committees with the university. NASA has representation on the following committees: