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October 2024
AMPL reaches agreement with McGill, ends strike
The Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL) signed a memorandum of understanding with the McGill administration. The agreement will see McGill drop its challenges to the certification of AMPL and the unionization efforts within the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education. In exchange, the unions have agreed to create a federated structure for bargaining university-wide working conditions.
All remaining issues at the AMPL negotiating table will be referred to arbitration.
AMPL members voted unanimously in support of the agreement, with 88% turnout.
The agreement marks the end of almost 14 weeks on the picket line for AMPL members, in both the spring and fall.
- Read AMPL’s statement.
Universities and colleges unveil new restrictions on campus protests
Some universities and colleges are kicking off the new academic year by rolling out administrative policies that restrict campus protests.
Acadia University and the University of Toronto have placed limits on the time, place and manner of demonstrations, ostensibly to not disrupt regular university activities.
Meanwhile, the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association successfully pushed back against a policy that would have required prior approval from the administration before any demonstration could be held.
Earlier this year, CAUT issued a statement urging university and college administrations to uphold the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest on campus.
Parliament is back: legislation to watch
Several federal government bills of concern to academic staff are at different legislative stages.
- Capstone research funding organization: Budget 2024 proposed a “capstone research funding organization” to improve strategic coordination of the three federal granting councils (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) under one roof. CAUT has been skeptical of the need for a new coordinating body and has raised concerns about what the implications could be for the independence of the granting councils and for investigator-led and peer-reviewed research.
- Online Harms Act: Bill C-63 (Online Harms Act) is undergoing a second reading in Parliament. CAUT and civil society organizations have expressed concern that proposed changes to the Criminal Code and the Human Rights Act could chill lawful expression.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Act: The Standing Committee on Industry and Technology resumed its study of the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), a part of Bill C‑27 (Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022).
Make it fair for contract academic staff
Kicking off on October 21, CAUT’s annual Fair Employment Week brings precarious employment on campuses to the forefront of conversations. The focus this year is on building collective action to stop the rise of precarious work on campuses and improve the working conditions of contract academic staff.
Local associations can get involved in different ways:
- Organize a local action
- Take part in the social media day of action on Wednesday, October 23
- Learn more at makeitfair.caut.ca
Fighting Alberta government interference in research
Around 100 members of academic staff associations and students held a protest rally last month in Calgary to protest the provincial government’s plan to review federally funded research grants.
Academic staff are concerned that the Provincial Priorities Act (Bill 18) could undermine academic freedom by politically screening research.
CAUT called on the Alberta government to scrap Bill 18.
- Read the Mount Royal Faculty Association media release: “Freedom to teach under threat from legislation”
- Add your voice to the “Stop Bill 18” campaign
Free teacher and trade union leader Fatima Al Rimawi
CAUT and other Education International member organizations are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Fatima Al Rimawi, a kindergarten teacher and president of the Jericho branch of the Palestine General Union of Workers in Kindergarten and Private Schools.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) arrested Al Rimawi at her home in January after she made social media posts critical of retaliatory attacks on Gaza. She is at the al-Damon military prison without access to medical care, legal counsel or family visits.
- CAUT encourages academic staff to join the campaign calling for Al Rimawi’s release
- CAUT statement on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Join the campaign to stop funding cuts at Memorial University
- Read ICLMG’s 20th anniversary publication “Defending Civil Liberties in an Age of Counter-terrorism and National Security”
- Alternative federal budget 2025: “A platform for the future, from the ground up”
- Lecturer - Masters of Biotechnology Program | University of British Columbia Okanagan
- Assistant Professor Teaching Stream, Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing | University of Waterloo
- Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), School of Communication Sciences and Disorders | McGill University
- Faculty of Business Administration - Tenure Track | Lakehead University
- Assistant Professor, Probationary, Tenure-Track, School of Occupational Therapy | Western University