Defence Fund President's Report – Fall 2014

Defence Fund President's Report
Fall 2014

The Oct. 18-19, 2014 AGM of Defence Fund Trustees will conclude my fourth year as President of the Fund. I have walked every picket line and delivered million dollar cheques to striking member unions. All of these visits included the Flying and Driving Picket volunteers from across Canada. Thank you to all who participated in lifting the spirits of our striking colleagues as they walked the line in all types of weather conditions. The visits are extremely important to a striking member union in their fight to achieve a collective agreement. Defence Fund Trustees walking a picket line far from home, instils a real feeling of hope and solidarity for our colleagues on the picket line. The Policy & Planning Committee warrants a great deal of thanks for their tireless effort dedicated to improving the By-law and Standing Rules and Regulations for the Fund over the past four years. The CAUT staff have been a tremendous help to me as well. Thanks Chantal, Lynn, Jess and Nancy for every task carried out for the smooth operation of the Fund.

A very important moment in time occurred at the Defence Fund AGM held in Toronto Oct. 15-16, 2011, as Trustees welcomed back the Syndicat des professeurs de l'Universte Laval (SPUL) as voting members.

The Trustees held numerous conference calls approving member union strike support and benefit coverage, sometimes twice over the four years . I have, in no particular order, listed the requests below and hope I did not leave anyone out:

  • Brandon University Faculty Association
  • Western Ontario Faculty Association's Librarian's and Archivists Windsor University Faculty Association
  • St. Francis Xavier Association of University Teachers Mount Saint Vincent University Faculty Association Dalhousie Faculty Association
  • Faculty Union of Nova Scotia College of Art & Design- Unit 1 & 2 Concordia University Faculty Association
  • Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa University of Manitoba Faculty Association
  • St. Jerome's University Academic Staff Association
  • Cape Breton University Faculty Association
  • University of Winnipeg Faculty Association
  • Association des professeurs de l'Universite de saint-Boniface Mount Allison Faculty Association
  • Wilfrid Laurier University faculty Association Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers Algoma University Faculty Association
  • Brock University Faculty Association Laurentian University Faculty Association

First Strike Vote Taken

It is important to note for the first time strike votes were taken at Concordia, Ottawa and St. Jerome's. All three settled without having to proceed with a job action.

Strike Action Taken

  • Brandon
  • Western Ontario Mount Allison
  • StFX
  • AUNBT
  • Windsor

During the past four years the Defence Fund member unions grew to fifty-one (51) and anticipating the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University joining the Fund, the member unions will increase to fifty-three (53).

I would like to thank all the Trustees and their member union for all the support given to me as I carried out my duties over the last four years. The visits to various institutions to give presentations or to participate on panel discussions, has hopefully expanded support for the Defence Fund. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Oct. AGM.

Sincerely and in constant solidarity,

Brian E. Brown
Past President, CAUT Defence Fund