YUFA
External
CAUT
Report November 2003
Pensions
There was a presentation by Ashley Crozier on the negotiation of pension
plans. In the question period I took the opportunity to ask him regarding
the wish of some of our members to take part of their pension in the form
of equity from the Fund and part in the form of a monthly payment. Ashley
Crozier could see no objection to this, nor could he see what advantage an
Employer might have in objecting to this arrangement. [Walter Whiteley has
since explained to me that the York Administration has in fact obtained a
ruling that this arrangement is illegal, and so the question now facing us
is how this ruling might be reversed. Meanwhile at least two more
open-minded universities in Ontario have gone ahead and implemented the
arrangement for their own retirees.]
Notice
of motion re the governance of pension plans
The question of governance of pension plans was raised, and a motion
concerning this mater will be brought to the spring Council.
Public
Policies for Action and Lobbying
A number of issues were identified, including Canadianization, Ethical
Conduct of for Research Involving Humans, Lawful Access to Data Systems,
the distribution of Canada Research Chairs, and Travel to or Through the
US.
Canadianization
It was noted that HRDC is not applying the rules (in part because of
pressure from certain Ontario institutions and the use of NAFTA to
circumvent the rules). CAUT is developing a recommended policy and will
bring it to Council in April.
Research
Involving Humans
There are at present more stringent requirements for research involving
animals than for reseach involving humans. Health Canada is looking for a
consensual way of dealing with this.
Lawful
Access to Data Systems
There is a need for harmonization of international laws regarding cyber
crime. Laws can require the installation of search mechanisms that shall
deliver to the state any data requested. Universities would accordingly
become collectors of data. The US could demand information on Canadian
citizens on matters that are not illegal in Canada (we have a different
notion of privacy.)
Canada
Research Chairs
80% of the chairs have gone to the natural sciences. They are being
directed to certain universities. They are forcing a redirecting of
priorities (at the University of Toronto 60% of the chairs went to the
health sciences). Women were discriminated against (the Human Rights
Commission has agreed to hear a complaint on discrimination; the complaint
will go to Tribunal; decision will be rendered only after all CRCs are
filled).
Public
Awareness Campaign
Accessibility
CAUT sees this as a major concern for the Association (a Decima poll has
identified this as a widespread public concern).
The
Federal Election
CAUT is preparing an election kit (to be distributed through its website).
New
Policy Statements
There were several policy statements, including:
-
A statement opposing a denial of academic appointment on the basis of family relationship;
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Another on a national child care system.
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In preparation: a policy against restrictions on the right to report research findings.
Model
Clauses
The following model clauses were approved:
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Accommodation of Academic Staff with Disabilities;
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Entry and Re-Entry of administrators into the Bargaining Unit;
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Intellectual Property;
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Suspension, Discipline and Dismissal.
Our
Own Request for a Policy Statement
Last May I brought to Council at the request of YUFA Executive a motion
reading: “that CAUT Executive produce a policy that covers the
increasing existence of research for corporations, whether directly in
on-campus corporations or indirectly through research grants that involve
corporate partnership and cannot proceed without such involvement
(including in particular network grants which require corporate
co-operation as a condition of their acceptance).” The union, seconded
by McGill, passed unanimously.
Since
there was nothing on the agenda about it, I asked about the status of this
motion. Jim Turk look embarrassed, glanced left then right, and said the
Executive had not done anything because it was unclear about the intent of
the motion.
The
reaction was rather interesting. In fact CAUT Executive has done a fair
amount in its policy statements that has direct bearing on our motion (as
pointed out by Marie-Claude Premont, from McGill, who seconded our motion.
But CAUT Executive is unresponsive to motions coming from below.
My
recommendation to YUFA Executive: that we clarify our motion and send it back to CAUT Executive.
Academic
Freedom Cases
Jim Turk mentioned issues of the influence of corporate funding; libel
chill; religious freedom; the abuse of collegiality; and the question of
the academic freedom of administrators. Issues in which CAUT is actively
involved include:
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a professor at UBC accused of religious discrimination (a $1.5 million lawsuit brought by a student);
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a professor of physics at the University of Toronto who appears to suffer major discrimination on the grounds of race (the professor is of Chinese origin);
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a case in the Department of Geography at Trent, involving the former Master of Peter Robinson College; and two cases, both in medicine, at Dalhousie.
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racial profiling at the US border (CAUT receives 12 calls a month about difficulties at the border).
Jane
Buck, President of the AAUP, spoke on “Academic Freedom and National
Security in a Time of Crisis.”
The
No Sweat Campaign
There was a presentation and discussion of a No Sweat Campaign, directed
against sweatshop labour involved in particular in the production of
logo-bearing university T-shirts and sweaters, with almost all the money
going to the retailer and to the universities. [There will be a further
discussion of the No Sweat Campaign in the pages of The Critical Times.]
Francophone
Associations
I attended the lunch of francophone associations since York is a bilingual
university. On the question of bilingualism at CAUT satisfaction was
expressed that a greater proportion of CAUT Bulletin articles was
being translated into French (I asked how many were written in French).
The
Academic Freedom Fund
In connection with the academic freedom case at UBC, their Faculty
Association made a substantial donation to CAUT. I asked, “Why not to
the Academic Freedom Fund?” The answer from the Executive was that
“the latter is a catastrophic insurance fund.”
The CAUT
Defence Fund
In response to a question from me, I learned from the Chairman of the Fund
that it stands at $6 million.
The
Sarah Shorten Award for the Advancement of Women
Presented to Jennifer Baquier from Dalhousie. In her acceptance speech,
she spoke about a union’s duty of fair representation, noting that a
member can sue his or her union. Unions need to defend the rights of
oppressed groups (and when unions fail we need to fight outside unions),
Workshop
on Contract Faculty
Attention was drawn to this Workshop, scheduled for January 30 - February
1.
Before
we dispersed: an announcement of the strike vote at Acadia (92%)