Caut profile web version

3 web version
November 2013
1 Courses and Workshops
2 Academic Freedom and Collegial Governance
3 Research and Analysis
4 Regular Publications
5 Communications and Advocacy
6 Collective Bargaining
7 Legal Services
8 Occupational Health and Safety
9 Affiliations with Canadian Organizations
10 Affiliations with International Organizations
Published by the Canadian Association of University Teachers 2705 Queensview Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 8K2 11 Committee Work
■ Building a Stronger Association (1.5 days, offered locally)
This workshop helps association leaders and members explore ways to strength-
en their organization. Course material on association legal, organizational and
contractual frameworks, and on ways to encourage greater member involve-
ment, is presented through individual and group exercises, role-playing and
group discussions.
■ Introduction to Collective Bargaining (2 days, offered locally)
For academic staff association members with little or no negotiating experience.
Through a realistic simulated round of negotiations, the course allows partici-
pants to develop bargaining, language drafting and team work skills as well as
experience the dynamics of the negotiating table. The session begins with a
review of the legal framework governing bargaining and a discussion of the
rules of contractual interpretation.
■ Advanced Collective Bargaining (Team Training) (2.5 days, offered regionally)
Offered on a regional basis to negotiating teams preparing to head into bargain-
ing. The goal is to provide bargaining team members with advanced training
on the dynamics of bargaining, language drafting and political strategies nec-
essary to succeed at the negotiating table.
■ Workshop for New Presidents (3 days, every May in Ottawa)
Examines the role of association presidents, discusses their responsibilities,
looks at different approaches associations take to their work, re views services
and resources CAUT makes available to local associations, gives a general
orientation to post-secondary issues in Canada and provides an occasion to
meet and build a network among colleagues who are new presidents of other
associations.
1 continued
■ Forum for Presidents (3 days, every January in Ottawa)
■ Equity Workshop (1 day, offered locally)
An opportunity for academic staff association presidents to discuss current Equity continues to be an unrealized goal within post-secondary education. This challenges facing their associations, review recent policy and legislative changes workshop helps identify key equity issues at your institution and helps academic affecting post-secondary education domestically and internationally, and staff associations identify strategies to address them.
■ Health and Safety Training – Level I (1.5 days, offered locally)
■ Forum for Chief Negotiators (3 days, every March in Ottawa)
CAUT offers a one and a half-day training course on occupational health and safe- An opportunity for chief negotiators to discuss current challenges in collective ty for members of executives, stewards’ councils, association boards as well as bargaining, review recent settlements, examine trends and explore bargaining members and potential members of joint health and safety com mittees.
■ Health and Safety Training – Level II (1 day, offered locally)
■ Workshop for Senior Grievance Officers (3 days, every December in Ottawa)
This one-day advanced course is primarily for joint health and safety committee Reviews major grievance issues, examines recent arbitration and judicial deci- members and others who have completed the Level I course. It focuses on health sions and discusses processes and procedures for effective handling of griev- and safety legislation and grievances.
■ Intellectual Property (0.5 day, offered locally)
A half-day workshop for academic staff associations about the key intel lectual
property issues facing academic staff, with particular focus on ownership rights
and developments in federal policy.
■ Grievance Handling (1.5 days, offered locally)
Introduction to dealing with members’ complaints and determining whether
filing a grievance is an appropriate option. Through a series of exercises, partici-
pants learn how to proceed with a grievance through the step process — initial
fact-finding, drafting the grievance and settlement discussions. The course con-
cludes with a brief introduction to the arbitration process.
■ Arbitration (2.5 days, offered on a regional or national basis)
An introduction to presenting a grievance at arbitration. The course focuses on
legal research skills and the art of advocacy, including how to approach and
develop a case, as well as techniques for direct examination, cross-
examination and opening and closing arguments.
■ Communications and Media Training Workshop (1 day, offered locally)
A practical introduction to successful media relations for academic staff
associations. Topics include: developing and implementing a communications
strategy; using clear language to communicate with members; design, layout
and editing of newsletters and web sites; libel, privacy and copyright; and how
to draft news releases and handle media interviews.
2Academic Freedom andCollegial Governance ■ Promotion of Academic Freedom
A central function of CAUT is the promotion and protection of academic
freedom. CAUT undertakes investigations of alleged violations and monitors
institutional practices across the country. Where violations are established,
CAUT intervenes to bring about appropriate changes.
■ Defence of Civil Liberties
Academic freedom depends on the foundation of a broader freedom of
expression and respect for civil liberties. CAUT actively works to protect and
expand human rights and civil liberties in Canada and internationally.
■ Promotion of Collegial Governance
CAUT seeks to maintain and extend the role of academic staff in the governance
of their institutions.
■ Information
CAUT’s Research Department collects and analyzes a wide range of data about
post-secondary education in Canada. CAUT strives to be the most authoritative
source of information on post-secondary education for member associations,
the media and the public.
■ Surveys
CAUT provides member associations with data from:
published annually based on data collected by CAUT; annual report based on information provided by member associations; ■ Librarians Salary and Rank Survey published biennially based on data collected by CAUT.
■ Annual Report on University Finances
CAUT produces an annual analysis of each uni versity’s budget. This analysis
is sent to each member association in the fall, with comparative data on
provincial averages and their university’s Macleans grouping.
■ Visiting Research Fellowship
CAUT offers Visiting Research Fellowships to allow individual members the
opportunity of working with CAUT on research projects of mutual interest.
■ Research Studies
CAUT undertakes research studies, in conjunction with Statistics Canada
and others, on matters relating to post-secondary education.
■ CAUT Book Series
Popularly written books to promote public discussion of important edu -
cational issues. Published by James Lorimer & Company, titles include:
■ Limits to Academic Freedom edited by James L. Turk (2014); ■ No Debate: The Israel Lobby and Free Speech at Canadian Universities ■ Canada’s Universities Go Global edited by Roopa Desai Trilokekar, ■ CAUT Bulletin
The Bulletin is CAUT’s principal publication. Published ten times a year, the ■ Universities at Risk: How Politics, Special Interests and Corporatization Bulletin is distributed to all CAUT members across the country and to key Threaten Academic Integrity edited by James L. Turk (2008); politicians, reporters and others interested in post-secondary education.
■ Free Speech in Fearful Times: After 9/11 in Canada, the U.S., Australia and Europe edited by James L. Turk and Allan Manson (2007); CAUT Education Review
■ Time’s Up: Mandatory Retirement in Canada edited by C. T. (Terry) Gillin, CAUT research reports on major policy concerns related to post-secondary David MacGregor and Thomas R. Klassen (2005); ■ Disciplining Dissent: The Curbing of Free Expression in Academia and the ■ CAUT Newswire
Media edited by William Bruneau and James L. Turk (2004); CAUT’s monthly electronic newsletter for member association communications ■ Let Them Eat Prozac by David Healy (2003); ■ Counting Out the Scholars: The Case Against Performance Indicators in Universities and Colleges by William Bruneau and Donald C. Savage ■ CAUT Facts & Figures
Provides details of settlements in the post-secondary sector as well as feature articles ■ The Olivieri Report: The Complete Text of the Report of the Independent and other materials of relevance to negotiators and local associations.
Inquiry Commissioned by the Canadian Association of University Teachers by Jon Thompson, Patricia Baird and Jocelyn Downie (2001); ■ CAUT Bargaining Advisories
■ The Corporate Campus: Commercialization and the Dangers to Canada’s Detailed advice on key issues in collective bargaining.
Colleges and Universities edited by James L. Turk (2000); CAUT Almanac of Post-Secondary Education in Canada
Universities for Sale: Resisting Corporate Control Over Canadian Higher An annual compilation of statistics on post-secondary education in Canada Education by Neil Tudiver (1999).
■ Making News: A CAUT Guide to Media Relations
Provides advice for effective media strategies.
■ CAUT Tax Advisories
Advice on federal tax changes that have particular relevance to academic staff.
■ Maintaining Contacts with Departmental Staff
CAUT maintains contact with senior staff in federal government departments
relevant to post-secondary education.
■ CAUT Web Site
The CAUT web site provides members and the public access to a wide range
of information and opinion on matters related to post-secondary education.
It also provides member associations access to a number of databases that are
■ Campaign Coordination
closed to non-members. The site address is www.caut.ca.
The Research and Advocacy Department coordinates CAUT’s national campaigns.
There are currently two national campaigns: ■ CAUT Listservs
■ Canada’s Past Matters (www.CanadasPastMatters.ca) CAUT promotes discussion among member associations through a series of ■ Get Science Right (www.GetScienceRight.ca) ■ Relations with Media
for local associations to share experiences, information, participate in CAUT maintains relations with key national reporters and monitors national the development of strategies to deal with matters of concern to aca- and regional media. CAUT publications are distributed to all education demic staff and to seek information and advice from other associations; reporters across the country and to other influential journalists, producers andmedia personnel.
for discussion and the exchange of information among academic ■ Media Contact Lists
librarians and those concerned with library-related issues; CAUT has a database of all national, regional and local media (print, audio and visual) and can make custom lists available to local associations upon request.
for discussion and exchange of information on equity issues; ■ Media Training
a forum for local association members and staff involved in CAUT has developed a workshop to train local leadership and staff in media ■ Public Conferences
CAUT hosts national public conferences to highlight important issues. Past for contract academic staff representatives; conferences have addressed commercialization of universities and colleges, online education, freedom of expression in academia and the media, occupa- for exchange of information among leaders of academic staff associ- tional health and safety, and intellectual property.
ations that represent members at Catholic universities and federated ■ Lobbying Politicians
CAUT meets regularly with federal politicians and senior government officials.
We also prepare briefs to parliamentary committees as well as distribute our for information sharing and discussion of issues affecting Aboriginal regular publications to Members of Parliament and senior governmental staff.
The annual CAUT Parliament Hill Day is also an opportunity for representatives from local associations to meet with Members of Parliament to alert them to for information sharing and discussion of issues affecting francophone the most pressing issues in post-secondary education.
■ CAUT Bargaining Advisories
CAUT issues Bargaining Advisories on issues academic staff are likely to con-
front at the bargaining table. The advisories discuss the issue, suggest ways of
dealing with it at the bargaining table and provide samples of good contract
■ Publication of Settlements
■ Collective Agreements Database
CAUT provides timely reports of collective bargaining settlements in the CAUT maintains a database of member academic staff association collective CAUT Bulletin and more detailed information in CAUT Facts and Figures.
agreements. This database is only available to member associations and is on ■ Organizing
the CAUT web site. The database can be searched by key words.
CAUT assists local associations that wish to conduct organizing drives for con- ■ Employee Benefits Database
tract academic staff (sessionals, part-timers, adjuncts) and other unorganized staff CAUT maintains an extensive database of benefits, based on CAUT’s annual and assists local associations that want to undertake certification drives.
■ CAUT Collective Bargaining Manual
■ Model Clauses
This manual provides information about the fundamentals of all aspects of The CAUT Collective Bargaining and Economic Benefits Committee prepares model clauses on a wide range of topics. These are available on the CAUT website. ■ CAUT Strike Manual
This manual serves as a guide to the preparation for and conduct of strikes.
■ Information
The CAUT Research Department provides data on salaries, pension, benefits
and post-secondary institution finances. CAUT’s collective bargaining
staff provide information and advice on contract language and bargaining
strategies.
■ Advice
CAUT provides expert tactical and strategic advice, upon request to the
Executive Director.
■ Collective Bargaining Courses
CAUT offers an introductory collective bargaining course on-site to local
association activists. CAUT also offers an advanced collective bargaining
course for bargaining teams.
■ Forum for Chief Negotiators
CAUT holds an annual workshop for local association chief negotiators.
■ Summary Legal Advice/Opinions
CAUT provides advice to academic staff associations on employment-related
matters.
■ Litigation
CAUT represents academic staff associations in major cases that have broad
impli cations for academic staff and/or involve important or precedent-setting
legal issues.
■ Grievance/Arbitration Courses
CAUT offers courses to train academic staff association activists in the handling
of grievances and arbitration.
■ Workshop for Senior Grievance Officers
CAUT holds an annual workshop for the senior grievance officer from each
local association.
■ Arbitration Database
CAUT maintains an arbitration database (available only to member asso -
ciations) which contains summaries of major university and college related
arbitration decisions. It can be searched on a number of parameters.
■ Intervention in Important Cases
CAUT inter venes in cases that raise significant issues for academic staff.
■ Monitoring Legislative Initiatives that have Implications for Labour
and Employment Relations within Universities and Colleges
CAUT will intervene where appropriate. With respect to provincial legislation,
CAUT acts in consultation with the provincial association if one exists in the
province.
■ Advice
CAUT provides advice and assistance to member associations in dealing effec-
tively with health and safety issues and concerns related to the workplace. CAUT
assists member associations in determining the nature and extent of problems;
in finding appropriate ways to eliminate the problems; in identifying suitable
consultants, testing facilities, occupational medicine specialists and hygienists;
and in developing strong collective agreement language to protect those in an
academic workplace.
■ Fact Sheets
CAUT prepares and distributes fact sheets on health and safety issues in academic
workplaces. The fact sheets are sent to each association (in a form suitable for pho-
tocopying for distribution to members) and are posted on the CAUT web site.
■ Handbook for Joint Health and Safety Committees
CAUT has prepared a handbook for employee representatives on joint work place
health and safety committees. The handbook describes the rights and responsi-
bilities of committee members, how committees should operate and where to
turn for additional information.
■ Health and Safety Training – Level I (1.5 days, offered locally)
CAUT offers a one and a half-day training course on occupational health and safe-
ty for members of executives, stewards’ councils, association boards as well as
members and potential members of joint health and safety com mittees.
■ Health and Safety Training – Level II (1 day, offered locally)
This one-day advanced course is primarily for joint health and safety committee
members and others who have completed the Level I course. It focuses on health
and safety legislation and grievances.
■ Research
CAUT assists in setting up research studies on occupational health and safety
problems in universities and colleges.
• CARE Canada• Centre for Social Justice• Confederation of Canadian Unions• Council of Canadians • CUSO• David Suzuki Foundation• Development and Peace ■ National Education Organizations
CAUT maintains active direct contact with a number of other national organizations in the education sector. These include: ■ Association of Canadian Community Colleges • International Development and Relief Foundation ■ Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada ■ Canadian Association for Graduate Studies ■ Canadian Association of University Business Officers ■ Canadian Education Association ■ Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences • National Anti-Racism Council of Canada ■ Canadian Federation of Students • National Union of Public and General Employees ■ National Coalitions
• Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants CAUT is active in a variety of national coalitions: ■ International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group provides a roundtable • Primate's World Relief and Development Fund for groups concerned about protecting civil liberties and human rights. • Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale• BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association ■ Trade and Investment Research Project monitors Canadian involvement in trade negotiations and prepares advisory material for member groups. • Canadian Council for International Co-operation • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives • Canadian Council for Social Development • Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation • Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice 9 continued
■ Canadian Consortium for Research promotes government support for • Childcare Resource and Research Unit • Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada • Canadian Association for Graduate Studies • Canadian Association of Research Libraries • Feminists for Just and Equitable Public Policy • International Anglican Women’s Network (Canada) • Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs • Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences • National Association of Women and the Law • New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women • Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society • Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists • Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses • Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science • Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women • Council of Canadian Departments of Psy cho logy • Council of Canadian University Che m istry Chairs • Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada • Regroupement provincial des maisons d'hébergement et de transition pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale ■ Ad Hoc Coalition for Women’s Equality and Human Rights monitors and speaks out against the erosion of women’s rights by the Canadian • Réseau d'Actions du genre et de développement social • South Asian Women's Rights Organization • Action Canada for Population and Development • Transition House Association of Nova Scotia • Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes • Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne • Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada • Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies • Women's Legal Education and Action Fund • Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres • Canadian Association of Social Workers ■ Public Education Network advocates for public education. • Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs • Canadian Federation of University Women • Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action • Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women • Fédération des étudiants des collèges du Québec • Fédération des étudiants des universités du Québec • Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec • Féd ération qué becoise des professeures et professeurs d’université • Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada • National Union of Public and General Employees ■ Education International
CAUT maintains a close working relationship with national academic staff
associations around the world directly and through Education Inter na tion al.
EI has members from more than 150 countries and hosts regular congresses
of national associations representing university and college academic staff,
as well as a world congress every four years for all affiliated national teachers’
federations representing 30 million teachers, academic staff and other
education workers.
■ Reciprocal Agreements
CAUT is establishing reciprocal agreements with our counterpart organizations
in other countries so that when CAUT members have visiting positions else-
where, they have the rights of the academic staff organization in that country.
Agreements have been negotiated with:
■ American Asso ciation of University Professors (United States) ■ Dansk Magisterforening (Danish Association of Masters and PhDs) ■ Irish Federation of University Teachers (Ireland) ■ National Association of Graduate Teachers (Ghana) ■ National Tertiary Education Union (Australia) ■ Norsk Forskerforbundet (Norwegian Association of Research Workers) ■ Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees ■ Sveriges Universitets-LärarFörbund (Swedish Association of ■ University and College Union (United Kingdom) ■ International Cooperation and Solidarity
CAUT works to support our counterpart organizations and unions in less
developed countries through solidary partnerships and development initiatives.
Capacity building projects are currently underway with the National Association
of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) in Ghana and the Palestinian Federation of
Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE).
■ Working Groups/Advisory Groups
■ Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Working Group advises CAUT on issues relating to post-secondary education for First Nations and other aboriginal peoples.
■ Women Academic Staff Working Group advises CAUT on issues and initiatives relating to women academic staff.
■ Standing Committees of Council
■ Academic Staff with Disabilities Working Group ■ Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee advises CAUT on issues and initiatives relating to academic staff • reviews cases of indi vidual acade mic staff who feel their ■ Racialized Academic Staff Working Group • recommends policy relating to academic freedom and tenure advises CAUT on issues and initiatives relating to racialized and other matters of academic rights.
■ Collective Bargaining and Economic Benefits Committee ■ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer and 2-Spirited • recommends policy relating to collective bargaining and advises CAUT on issues and initiatives relating to lesbian, gay, • develops model clauses; sponsors conferences on collective bisexual, transgendered, queer and 2-spirited academic staff.
■ Advisory Group on Ethics in Research Involving Human Subjects ■ Contract Academic Staff Committee advises CAUT on issues in research ethics.
• recommends policy on matters relating to contract academic staff; • represents the interests of contract academic staff within CAUT.
advises CAUT on issues relating to academic research in Canada.
• recommends policy with respect to equity;• serves as a clearing house for ideas and projects developed by • proposes strategies pro moting equity in Canadian universities ■ Librarians’ and Archivists’ Committee • recommends policy on matters affecting academic librarians ■ Committees Appointed by the Executive
advises the Executive on matters relating to francophone academic staff.
advises the Executive on matters relating to academic staff in faculties of medicine and affiliated health care institutions.
Canadian Association of University Teachers
2705 Queensview Drive Ottawa Ontario K2B 8K2
Tel 613.820.2270 | Fax 613.820.7244 | Web www.caut.ca

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