Defence Fund President's Report to CAUT Council
Spring 2010

The period of relative calm continues for the CAUT Defence Fund. There have been no strikes/lockouts involving member unions of the Fund since October 2008.

There have, however, been a couple of close calls since my last report. In November, the Board of Trustees approved strike benefits for Nipissing University Faculty Association (NUFA) and, in January, for St. Francis Xavier Association of University Teachers (StFXAUT). Both of those unions ultimately achieved agreements without job action.

Applications for membership in the Defence Fund were received in February from the unions at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOITFA), and the Atlantic School of Theology (ASTFA). Those applications were approved by the Board of Trustees. The Defence Fund now has 43 academic staff unions as members.

As always, the DF is grateful for the excellent work by CAUT staff in support of DF activities.

The next annual general meetings of the DF Board of Trustees will be in Montreal in October of 2010, and in Toronto in October of 2011.

This is my final report to CAUT council as president of the Defence Fund. It has been a fabulous experience to lead such a dedicated group of trade unionists in working toward fair employment conditions for academic staff in Canada.

In solidarity, and respectfully submitted by,

Lawrence Hale
President and Trustee (UPEI)
March 11, 2010