(Ottawa – September 6, 2021) This Labour Day, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) pays tribute to the tireless efforts of workers and the trade union movement in weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, while standing up for conditions and workplace practices that promote social equity.

At a time when many hard-working people in universities and colleges face increasing uncertainty—due to the devastating impacts of COVID-19, shrinking government funding, threats to academic freedom, and attacks on shared governance—CAUT encourages academic staff to renew their commitment to collective action, and take stock of what is important for the future.

“For our future, what’s most pressing is to continue to fight for workplace rights that will allow us to better serve the public interest,” said CAUT president Brenda Austin-Smith.  “We are stronger when we organize and push to protect academic job security, uphold the highest levels of health and safety in the workplace, and promote collegial institutional governance.”