FLYING PICKET REPORT - UNIVERSITY OF SUDBURY
On August 21, 2008, the CAUT Defence Fund rallied in Sudbury in support of the faculty at the University of Sudbury, a federated institution on the campus of Laurentian University. The faculty union LUFA-US has 19 full-time members. They went on strike on August 18th and while there were issues of salary and teaching load, the flash point was a letter sent to each association member announcing that the collective agreement was no longer in force but that faculty members could make individual arrangements with the university, such as reporting to the Registrar each day between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm and seeking permission if they were to be absent on any day. These rules were to be in effect until classes started. This letter was, in fact, illegal because it was sent out before the union was on strike and was later rescinded. However, an almost identical email was sent to the members once they were on strike.
I was there, on my first flying picket, to represent AUFA and I was proud to present the LUFA-US president with a cheque for $1,500 in strike support. It was inspiring to see the support for this small union from faculty unions across Canada, including LUFA, who are still in contract negotiations, as well as non-academic unions in the area. Even the local wildlife showed their support on the line; there were sightings of foxes and a black bear. Thankfully, the bear chose not to cross the picket line!
The union reached a tentative agreement on August 27th and ratified on the 29th. Congratulations to the members of LUFA-US for standing up to a shocking attempt to undermine the rights of all academic unions to collective bargaining. Well done!
Catherine Stanley