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The CAUT Defence Fund was formed in 1978 and has been incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, S.C. 2009, c. 23 since 1992. Each member union appoints one director for each 500 of its own members, and some CAUT officers are ex-officio members of the Board of Directors. Directors meet in person at least once a year to oversee the management of the Fund.

The Fund’s resources come from two sources: member unions’ dues and the interest which the Fund earns from its invested assets. Given the ongoing challenges facing universities in Canada, and academic staff unions in particular, the Fund plays a critical role in helping members defend their interests, and thereby the interests of all academic staff.

For additional information about the CAUT Defence Fund, including the By-Laws and Standing Rules and Regulations, please consult the web site or contact the Fund President or Secretary.

What benefits does the CAUT Defence Fund provide?

The Fund provides several supports to member unions, including:

  • Daily Benefits, for a union to provide strike pay to its members who are on strike or locked out, or rotating strike,
  • Strike Support Loans to cover extraordinary expenses incurred by member unions in preparation for or during a strike or lockout,
  • Group Insured Benefit Loans which pay premiums for group benefits during a strike,
  • Strike Mediation and Arbitration Benefits towards the costs of mediation or arbitration to settle a strike or lockout,
  • Mediation and Arbitration Benefits to assist with mediation and/or arbitration costs in settlement of collective agreement negotiations,
  • Bargaining Rights Defence Benefits towards the costs of defending bargaining rights, such as (a) claims of unfair labour practices or failure to bargain in good faith, where a collective agreement is being negotiated, and (b) in legal defence against legislative actions to remove or restrict collective bargaining and/or strike rights.
  • Solidarity Daily Benefits for a union’s members who lose pay by lawfully showing solidarity with members of another union by refusing to cross a picket line when those individuals would otherwise be required to cross the picket line to get to their work.
  • Strike Support Actions such as sending visitors from member unions to demonstrate in support of a member union engaged in a strike, or other actions that may help lead to the end of the strike.

Benefits are calculated based on annually reported membership numbers.

How much does it cost to join the Defence Fund?

A member union contributes to the financial assets of the Fund in two ways:

  1. During the first year of membership, a union is required to pay a $30 initiation fee for every dues-paying member in its bargaining unit or units. The initiation fee is reduced to $20 for a union which joins the Fund within one year of becoming certified. Such initiation fees can be paid out all at once or in equal monthly instalments over the first year of membership.
  2. Each member union pays monthly dues which are set annually, based on a formula using December 1st membership numbers, and any pro-rating of part-time, contract or other types of members for each dues-paying member in its bargaining unit or units. The level of dues is changed from time to time by the Board of Directors. It is currently set at $7.00 per person per month (non-taxable).

Member Unions of the CAUT Defence Fund

  • Acadia University Faculty Association
  • Association des bibliothécaires, des professeures et professeurs de l'Université de Moncton
  • Association des bibliothécaires, professeures et professeurs de l'université de Moncton, campus d'Edmundston
  • Association des professeures et professeurs de l'université de Moncton à Shippagan
  • The Professors Association of Saint Paul University
  • Association des professeurs et des professionnels de l’Université de Saint-Boniface
  • Association des professeurs, professeures et bibliothécaires de l’Université de Sainte-Anne
  • Association of Academic Staff University of Alberta
  • Association of McGill Academic Staff of the School of Continuing Studies (AMASCS)
  • Association of McGill Professors of Education
  • Association of McGill Professors of Law
  • Association of McGill Professors of the Faculty of Arts
  • Association of Part-Time Professors of the University of Ottawa
  • Association of Professors of Bishop's University
  • Association of University Professors of the University of Ottawa
  • Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers
  • Athabasca University Faculty Association
  • Atlantic School of Theology Faculty Association
  • Brandon University Faculty Association
  • British Columbia Institute of Technology Faculty and Staff Association
  • Brock University Faculty Association
  • Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3912 (Mount Saint Vincent University, Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University)
  • Cape Breton University Faculty Association
  • Carleton University Academic Staff Association
  • Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association
  • Concordia University Faculty Association
  • Concordia University Part-Time Faculty Association
  • Dalhousie Faculty Association
  • Faculty Association of the University of St. Thomas
  • Faculty Union of Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
  • Grant MacEwan University Faculty Association
  • Huron University College Faculty Association
  • King's University College Faculty Association
  • Lakehead University Faculty Association
  • Laurentian University Faculty Association
  • Lecturers’ Union of Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • McMaster University Academic Librarians’ Association
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association
  • Mount Allison University Faculty Association
  • Mount Royal Faculty Association
  • Mount Saint Vincent University Faculty Association
  • Nipissing University Faculty Association
  • Northern Ontario School of Medicine Faculty and Staff Association OPSEU/SEFPO Local 677
  • Ontario Public Service Employees Union
  • Osgoode Hall Faculty Association
  • Queen's University Faculty Association 
  • Renison Association of Academic Staff
  • Royal Roads University Faculty Association
  • Saint Mary's University Faculty Union
  • Simon Fraser University Faculty Association
  • St. Francis Xavier Association of University Teachers
  • St. Jerome’s University Academic Staff Association
  • St. Mary’s University Faculty Association
  • St. Thomas More College Faculty Union
  • Syndicat des professeures et professeurs de l'Université de l'Ontario français
  • Syndicat des professeures et professeurs de l'Université de Sherbrooke
  • Syndicat des professeurs et professeures de l’Université Laval
  • Syndicat général des professeurs et professeures de l’Université de Montréal
  • The Faculty Association of the University of Calgary
  • Trent University Faculty Association
  • University of Guelph Faculty Association
  • University of King’s College Teachers’ Association
  • University of Lethbridge Faculty Association
  • University of Manitoba Faculty Association
  • University of Northern British Columbia Faculty Association
  • University of Ontario Institute of Technology Faculty Association
  • University of Prince Edward Island Faculty Association
  • University of Regina Faculty Association
  • University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association
  • University of Toronto Faculty Association
  • University of Victoria Faculty Association
  • University of Western Ontario Faculty Association
  • University of Winnipeg Faculty Association
  • Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association
  • Windsor University Faculty Association
  • York University Faculty Association