Our Story
Since 1951, CAUT has defended the rights of teachers, librarians, researchers and other academic staff in Canada’s public post-secondary institutions. With 75,000 members at over 130 colleges and universities nationwide, CAUT advocates for quality, accessible post-secondary education.
Empowering members
CAUT unites and empowers academic staff associations at Canada’s public universities and colleges. Together, we defend academic freedom, the integrity of the academic job and high-quality, accessible and affordable post-secondary education.
We work with associations across the country, bringing national and international perspectives, to help solve local challenges. We also bring local priorities to the national agenda, and together we’ve influenced federal policy and investments in research and post-secondary education.
Our history
In 1951, CAUT’s founding members envisioned a national association to guide common issues like wages, tenure, pensions, income tax policy, sabbaticals and academic freedom. At the time, collective bargaining was gaining ground among academics.
In 1958, CAUT investigated the unjust firing of Professor Harry Crowe at United College in Winnipeg. The case garnered national attention for academic freedom. It prompted CAUT to develop a robust structure to handle issues facing academic staff.
CAUT appointed J.H. Stewart Reid as our first executive secretary a year later. He had resigned his job in solidarity with Crowe, even though Reid had terminal cancer and no other job prospects. CAUT was still a small organization with only 27 member associations.
In 1963, that number grew to 38 member associations and 4,800 individual members. A decade later, it had grown to 47 member associations with 17,500 individual members.
The 1970s saw a significant push towards unionization. By 1986, 80% of member associations were certified unions. Today, almost all member associations are unionized.
CAUT now represents over 75,000 academic staff at 130 universities and colleges across the country.
Our impact and actions
Uniting academic staff associations across the country, CAUT strengthens collective efforts to provide first-rate education and research at Canadian institutions. CAUT brings unique expertise to support the work of dedicated leaders and activists from member associations who fight for better working conditions and rights, better learning conditions for students, and a more just and equitable society.
We produce original research and analysis on Canadian post-secondary education. These studies examine pay equity, collegial governance structures, and other issues facing the post-secondary sector. Our analysis informs policymakers, academic staff and everyday Canadians.
We offer tools and learning opportunities for our member associations on topics ranging from collective bargaining to media engagement.
CAUT’s legal team works with member associations to provide hands-on legal advice. Our legal experts help to defend members and intervene in precedent-setting cases.
CAUT leads public advocacy campaigns for high-quality, accessible education and fair working conditions for contract academic staff. This work helps to shape federal policy and promotes equity for academic professionals.
CAUT wins
Over the years we’ve improved public post-secondary education and advanced the rights of academic staff.
- In 2024, CAUT won legislation excluding public post-secondary institutions from corporate insolvency and helped secure an additional $1.8 billion over five years to fund core research through the three federal granting councils.
- In 2021, CAUT’s advocacy efforts led to a $121.3 million federal investment to make high-quality post-secondary minority-language education available across Canada.
- In 2020, CAUT Council censured the University of Toronto for cancelling a job offer to Dr. Valentina Azarova due to donor pressure. The campaign gained global support. By September that year, CAUT's Executive Council suspended the censure because the university had re-offered Dr. Azarova the job.
- In 2003, CAUT represented eight women academics challenging inequities in the Canada Research Chair Program. The effort resulted in a historic settlement agreement that requires the Program to better reflect the breadth of diverse research and faculty at Canadian institutions.
