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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
  • OPSEU Algoma University Local 685
  • Association of Academic Staff University of Alberta
  • Athabasca University Faculty Association
  • Atlantic School of Theology Faculty Association
  • Association of Professors of Bishop's University
  • Brandon University Faculty Association
  • Brock University Faculty Association
  • University of Calgary Faculty Association
  • Cape Breton University Faculty Association
  • Carleton University Academic Staff Association
  • Concordia University Faculty Association
  • Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association
  • Concordia University Part-Time Faculty Association
  • CUPE 3912 (Dalhousie University, Mount Saint Vincent University and Saint Mary’s University)
  • Dalhousie Faculty Association
  • Grant MacEwan University Faculty Association
  • University of Guelph Faculty Association
  • Huron University College Faculty Union
  • University of King’s College Teachers Association
  • Lakehead University Faculty Association
  • Laurentian University Faculty Association
  • Syndicat des professeurs et professeures de l’Université Laval
  • University of Lethbridge Faculty Association
  • University of Manitoba Faculty Association
  • Association of McGill Professors of Education
  • Association of McGill Professors of the Faculty of Arts
  • Association of McGill Professors of Law
  • McMaster University Academic Librarians' Association
  • Lecturers’ Union of Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association
  • Association des bibliothécaires, professeures et professeurs de l'Université de Moncton
  • Association des bibliothécaires, professeures, professeurs de l'Université de Moncton, campus d'Edmundston
  • Association des professeures et professeurs de l'Université de Moncton, Campus de Shippagan
  • Syndicat général des professeurs et professeures de l'Université de Montréal
  • Mount Allison Faculty Association
  • Mount Royal Faculty Association
  • Mount Saint Vincent University Faculty Association
  • Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers
  • Nipissing University Faculty Association
  • University of Northern British Columbia Faculty Association
  • Northern Ontario School of Medicine Faculty and Staff Association
  • Faculty Union of Nova Scotia College of Art & Design
  • Syndicat des professeures et professeurs de l'Université de l'Ontario français
  • Osgoode Hall Faculty Association
  • Association of Part-time Professors of the University of Ottawa
  • Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa
  • University of Prince Edward Island Faculty Association
  • Queen's University Faculty Association
  • University of Regina Faculty Association
  • Renison Association of Academic Staff
  • Royal Roads University Faculty Association
  • Association des professeurs et bibliothécaires de l’Université Sainte-Anne
  • Association des professeurs et des professionnels de l'Université de Saint-Boniface
  • Saint Mary's University Faculty Union
  • Association des professeures et professeurs de l'Université Saint-Paul
  • University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association
  • Syndicat des professeures et professeurs de l’Université de Sherbrooke
  • 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
  • Faculty Association of the University of St. Thomas
  • St. Thomas More College Faculty Union
  • University of Toronto Faculty Association
  • Trent University Faculty Association
  • University of Ontario Institute of Technology Faculty Association
  • University of Victoria Faculty Association
  • University of Western Ontario Faculty Association
  • Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association
  • Windsor University Faculty Association
  • University of Winnipeg Faculty Association
  • York University Faculty Association