The Communiqué – Volume 46, No. 7 – Dec. 1, 2023
In this Issue:
- CUASA President takes part in CAUT Parliament Hill Day
- Meet Your Collective Bargaining Committee Members
- CUASA Unit Visits
- Get involved: Volunteer with CUASA
- CUASA Disability Caucus and CUASA 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Caucus Upcoming Meetings
- Academic Freedom in time of conflict
- Updates from OCUFA and CAUT
- ODLC Labour Appreciation Awards Dinner
- Discount offer – Outerbridge Magic: ‘Mysteries of The Keyhole House’ @ Ottawa Little Theatre – Dec 26-31
CUASA President takes part in CAUT Parliament Hill Day
On November 23, CUASA’s President joined CAUT and representatives from faculty associations across the country for the annual Parliament Hill Day.
Dominique Marshall had the opportunity to meet with Senators Andrew Cardozo, Kim Pate, and Lucie Moncion. She was joined by the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa’s (APUO) Equity Officer, Philippe Frowd.
Senator Andrew Cardozo (middle), with Carleton History M.A. Candidate Katie Carson (left) and APUO Equity Officer Philippe Frowd (right) during CAUT Parliament Hill Day.
Photo credit: Senator Cardozo’s Assistant
Parliament Hill Day is an important opportunity for representatives of CAUT member associations to meet with federal Parliamentarians on issues that matter in post-secondary education and research. Delegates meet one-on-one with Members of Parliament and Senators to discuss the challenges facing university and college staff in their constituency and across the country, and to outline what the federal government can do to ensure high quality and accessible post-secondary education.
This year, lobbying efforts included a focus on federal funding, research support, and removing post-secondary institutions from insolvency laws.
Meet Your Collective Bargaining Committee Members
The CUASA Collective Bargaining Committee is hard at work ahead of the expiration of the collective agreement on April 30, 2024. Over the next few months, we’ll be introducing you to the volunteers serving on the CBC who are dedicating their time in support of CUASA members as we prepare for the upcoming round of negotiations. In this issue, we’d like you to meet Stéfy McKnight:
Photo credit: Stéfy McKnight
Name: Dr. Stéfy McKnight (they/them)
Position: Equity Chair and Alternate Chair of Bargaining Committee
Bio: Dr. Stéfy McKnight (they/them/elle) is a white settler (French, Scottish, Greek, English descent), non-binary queer artist-scholar based in Katarokwi/Kingston, on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. They are Director of PROTOHYVE: Centre for Innovative Research-Creation in so called Canada, and SurveillART: Laboratory for Disruptive Exhibitionism at Carleton University on the unceded territories of the Algonquin nation. Stéfy’s research examines research-creation as a methodology for knowledge production and fact-based storytelling in so called Canada. Their research interests are broad and look at surveillance as contemporary colonialism; queer and femme representation in digital and virtual spaces; 2SLGBTQIA+ activism; technology and surveillance in rural communities, and art as function-creep. Learn more about them here.
CUASA Unit Visits
Over the last few weeks, members of the CUASA Collective Bargaining Committee have started a series of unit visits to connect with members and hear your thoughts and concerns as we prepare for the 2024 round of collective bargaining.
If you haven’t seen us yet, don’t worry – we’ll likely be coming your way soon. Our goal is to visit most units by the end of January. We look forward to meeting with you!
As always, if you have anything to share with us, you can also write to us at [email protected].
Get involved: Volunteer with CUASA
The Association is only as strong as its membership, so we count on the time and commitment of our members to achieve our goals. If you’d like to contribute to CUASA’s work, here are some ways you can help:
… join CUASA’s leadership with a role on the Steering Committee
The Steering Committee helps to set direction for the union, and administers Association policies. This committee meets once a month during the academic year, and roles on Steering typically include teaching releases in exchange for your service. We’re still looking for a volunteer to serve as CUASA’s Vice President.
… serve as a member of Anti-Racism Working Group
This Working Group is open to any CUASA member interested in addressing the issue of racism at Carleton. It usually meets once a month during the academic year.
… join the new Mobilization Committee
This new Committee, approved by Council in May, is responsible for member mobilization and possible strike preparation as CUASA enters negotiations for a new collective agreement next spring 2024. The committee will likely meet once a month during the academic year.
For more information, or to volunteer for any of these positions, please contact the CUASA’s Chair, Nominations and Elections, Wasiu Raji, at [email protected].
Disability Caucus and 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Caucus Upcoming Meetings
Over the last year members have expressed interest in forming various caucus groups at CUASA. So far, we have had requests for a 2SLBGTQIA+ Pride Caucus and a Disability Caucus. If you are interested in participating in either caucus group, please contact Equity Officer Max López at [email protected] for more details. These caucus groups are intended to be a way for people from equity-seeking groups to find community connections, socialize, organize, support one another, and share ideas with each other and with CUASA. These groups typically meet once or twice a term, with the potential to meet more frequently if the members would prefer.
Academic Freedom in times of conflict
CUASA has been actively adhering to and disseminating the stances of its affiliated local, provincial, federal, and international faculty association federations on the topic of academic freedom. These positions have been expressed broadly, and specifically in response to an incident in October where an Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) overlooked the principle of academic freedom. The guidance provided by these federations has been instrumental for us as we assess the implications of the conflict on the members of CUASA.
Should members be interested, here are those statements:
- Education International: https://www.ei-ie.org/en/item/28104:education-international-calls-for-an-immediate-stop-to-the-disproportionate-and-indistinct-retaliation-in-gaza
- CAUT on academic freedom: https://www.caut.ca/latest/2023/11/caut-statement-academic-freedom-times-conflict
- CAUT on the matter of the Member of Provincial Parliament: https://www.caut.ca/latest/2023/10/caut-calls-ontario-minister-apologize-comments-legislature
CUASA also wrote about the conflict early on: https://www.cuasa.ca/statement-on-the-israel-palestine-crisis/
Updates from OCUFA and CAUT
OCUFA: After years of work, major victory achieved on protecting public universities
OCUFA welcomed the news from Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in the Fall Economic Statement that the Federal government is reforming harmful corporate bankruptcy legislation—a crucial move that will protect public universities from corporate-style restructuring policies.
The news comes almost three years after Laurentian University entered into bankruptcy protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) and Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA). The catastrophe was the first time a public institution utilized the CCAA and BIA processes, which are designed for private companies in financial distress. The move led to devastating cuts, job losses, and learning interruptions for students, faculty, and staff, and deeply impacted the University’s community of Sudbury, Ontario.
Read OCUFA’s full statement here.
CAUT welcomes federal plan to exclude public universities and colleges from bankruptcy and insolvency laws
CAUT welcomes the announcement in the Fall Economic Statement that the federal government will amend the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to exclude public universities and colleges.
“The Liberal government has made good on its promise to close the loophole that allowed the Laurentian University administration to bypass traditional ways that colleges and universities manage financial difficulties,” said CAUT executive director David Robinson. “As the Auditor-General of Ontario noted in her report on Laurentian, invoking corporate insolvency laws was unnecessary, inappropriate, and damaging to the public mission of the university.”
Read CAUT’s full statement here.
ODLC Labour Appreciation Awards Dinner
The Ottawa and District Labour Council (ODLC) held their annual Labour Appreciation Awards Dinner on Monday, November 27. Our President Dominique Marshall and Chief Negotiator Pierre Cloutier de Repentigny were in attendance to represent CUASA.
CUASA extends its congratulations to award winners June Girvan (Community Activist), Stuart Simpson (Health and Safety), Garry Guigue (Labour Pioneer), and IBEW Local 636 (Labour Activist).
This year’s winners of the 2023 ODLC Labour Appreciation Awards.
Photo credit: ODLC
Discount offer – Outerbridge Magic: ‘Mysteries of The Keyhole House’ @ Ottawa Little Theatre – Dec 26-31
Grand Illusionists and Hollywood’s Magic Castle headliners Ted & Marion Outerbridge are set to cast their spell with their new Family Magic Show, “Mysteries of the Keyhole House” at the Ottawa Little Theatre, Dec. 26-31 – a perfect way to close out the Holidays and ring in the New Year!
Ted and Marion would love to have you as our guest and are offering a 50% discount for all CUASA members (with the code: save50).
Outerbridge Magic – Mysteries of the Keyhole House is a world-class magic show with grand illusions, comedy-magic and mind-bending mentalism that will amaze and thrill audiences of all ages.
The Keyhole House is an enchanting sanctuary inhabited by Ted and Marion Outerbridge, who have restored the once-dilapidated home to be guardians of this historic Ottawa Valley gem. As they meticulously refinished the creaking floors that carried the weight of countless footsteps, a treasure trove of cherished, historic relics materialized before their eyes.
Each artifact whispered tales of bygone eras, from delicate skeleton keys to faded photographs. But it was Ted’s compelling social media videos, marrying history with the digital age, that transported the Keyhole House into the viral universe. With over 30 million views on social media and appearances on the CTV National News, a TVO documentary, and NBC’s The Golf Channel (Brooke Henderson’s grandparents had a 54-year connection to the house), the Keyhole House became international news!
Now birthed into a full production featuring enthralling illusions, theatre, music, Canadian history and dance, they’d love the opportunity to share the new show with the community.
WHAT:
Outerbridge Magic – Mysteries of the Keyhole House featuring Ted and Marion Outerbridge
WHERE:
Ottawa Little Theatre, 400 King Edward Ave, Ottawa, K1N 7M7
WHEN:
Dec. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 @ 7:30pm
Dec. 31 @ 3:00pm
SHOW LENGTH:
100 minutes, including a 20 minute intermission
TICKETS:
https://outerbridge.eventbrite.com or call 613-430-4626
$49.64 | Senior 60 and over- $39.40 | Youth 25 and under – $26.78 (all prices include taxes/fees)
CUASA members get a 50% discount with the code: save50
© 2023 Carleton University Academic Staff Association
