Defence Fund President's Report to CAUT Council – November 2004

Defence Fund President's Report to CAUT Council
November 2004

Unlike last year, the period between the April CAUT Council and the annual meeting of the Defence Fund's Trustees has been a busy one. On May 10, I participated in a meeting of the Planning and Policy Committee in Ottawa along with Nick Baxter-Moore (Brock), Denise Nevo (Mount St. Vincent), Diane Peters (Wilfrid Laurier), and Michael Wharton (York).

In early June, the negotiations at Moncton had stalled, with fifteen items unresolved, including salaries, the duration of the agreement, and workloads. Facing the risk of a lock-out, following conciliation deadlines in July, I agreed to organise a conference call for June 14, 2004 and spent time the week before to call almost every trustee in order to make sure we would have quorum. Thanks to our collective dedication we had possibly the best participation ever to a conference call. At the request of the ABPPUM, I went to Moncton on June 17-18 in order to participate in a general membership meeting and bring the Defence Fund's message of support to the faculty and librarians.

As I had to be absent in July, our Treasurer Dennis Felbel agreed to be on call if needed as long as he was available, then past-chair Denise Nevo kept contact with our colleagues in Moncton; as the risk of a lock-out remained serious, the million-dollar giant cheque was printed. Eventually, the negotiating teams agreed on a vacation period of four weeks until August 17, date where the two teams met again; however, by early September it became clear that no progress would be made until the ABPPUM would act more drastically. This led to a strike vote of 75% on September 10, which, we can assume, precipitated the settlement obtained the week after.

Meanwhile, the Membership Committee of the Defense Fund was actively pursuing potential new member associations and submitted a detailed report to Trustees in Charlottetown on October 2, 2004. I take this opportunity to thank Serge Jolicoeur (Moncton) who has worked tirelessly as president of this committee over the past dew years. I also attended the June meeting of the OCUFA Board in Toronto, where I spoke briefly about the Defence Fund.

The Board of Trustees met in Charlottetown, PE, on October 2, 2004. The most important decision made that day is that strike benefits will now be paid starting the fourth day of a strike, instead of the eight day. As, since a number of years, faculty associations on strike usually cover the burden of strike benefits for the first days, this decision is going to have direct consequences on the financial ability of Defence Fund member associations to fight strikes effectively. For example, an association with 100 members would save $ 6,000 per day, $ 18,000 over three days; one with 500 members will save $ 90,000 over the period, and our largest member associations around $ 200,000.

Other decisions include:

  • a new by-law creating an elections committee (starting in 2005-2006)
  • a resolution that all official documents and covering memos be circulated to Trustees in both English and French
  • organising an annual orientation session for new trustees on the Friday afternoon or evening preceding the AGM
  • preparing a brochure outlining the roles and responsibilities of trustees and alternates

Elections were held to various positions under the new by-law adopted last year in Regina. I was elected President for 2004-2006. Richard Blute (Ottawa) was acclaimed as Chair for 2004-2005. Dennis Felbel (Manitoba) was acclaimed again as Treasurer for 2004-2005. The committees were formed as follows:

  • Planning and Policy Committee: Nick Baxter-Moore (Brock) - Chair. Albert Katz (Western), Diane Peters (Wilfrid Laurier), Robert Rosebrugh (Mount Allison), William Schipper (Memorial), and Michael Wharton (York).
  • Membership Committee: David Tindall (Dalhousie) - Chair. Angela Lonardo (Memorial), William Osei (Algoma), and Marjorie Ratcliffe (Western).
  • Investment Committee: Charles Draimin (Concordia) - Chair. Larry Hale (UPEI), Jeff Power (St. Mary's), and Sharon Taylor-Henley (Manitoba).

I am very grateful for the assistance and support I receive from the CAUT staff, as well as for their continuing efficient work in the administration of the Defence Fund.

In solidarity, and respectfully submitted by

Jean-Charles Cachon
President and Trustee (Laurentian)
November 2004