CAUT | ACPPU
Canadian Association of University Teachers
| CAUT stands in solidarity with striking academic staff at Vancouver Island University |
| (Friday, March 11, 2011)
- The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) stands in solidarity with members of the Vancouver Island University Faculty Association in their job action. The VIU administration must prioritize access to education for students, reduce administrative costs, stop laying off academic staff, and allow faculty members to contribute meaningfully to University governance. The administration has had many opportunities to bargain in good faith since May of 2010, when negotiations began. Although the Faculty Association has withdrawn over 75% of its original proposals and is not asking for a wage increase, the administration is still refusing to move on any non-monetary priority areas. At an institution where senior administrators’ salaries and benefits have risen over 40% in the last four years, it is a public travesty that important programming and student resources have been slashed and faculty ranks have been reduced. “Across the country, academic staff are being asked to shoulder the burden of ill-advised financial decisions on the part of university administrations,” said Penni Stewart, president of CAUT. "We're proud of our colleagues at VIU for taking action to protect accessibility and quality education, and CAUT will do everything it can to ensure their success." Strike action by the VIU Faculty Association began at 8am on Thursday, March 10. Students and members of other campus unions are supporting the strikers on the picket lines. The Canadian Association of University Teachers represents more than 65,000 academic staff members at 121 universities and colleges across Canada. |
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