TORONTO, January 6, 2022 – The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) stands in solidarity with striking faculty at the Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association (CUEFA). Members of the CUEFA are currently braving cold winter weather and walking the picket lines as they increase pressure on the university administration to address their concerns about workload and pay.
Members of the faculty association have some of the highest workloads and lowest pay amongst Canadian faculty. Workload, recruitment, and retention challenges mean that faculty at the university have less time to spend with students and research. Through bargaining and mediation, the university administration has still not addressed these serious issues.
“On behalf of OCUFA and our 31 member associations representing 17,000 faculty, academic librarians, and other academic professionals across Ontario, I would like to express our solidarity and support for our colleagues at the CUEFA,” said Sue Wurtele, President of OCUFA. “Across Ontario and Canada, we see faculty struggling with high workloads and we understand the negative impacts this has on both the health of faculty and the educational experiences of their students. It’s incumbent upon the Concordia University of Edmonton administration to take these issues seriously and negotiate a fair contract that sees classes resume at the university.”
The CUEFA had been trying to address these issues through bargaining and avoid a strike, but, despite record surpluses in recent years, the university administration has refused to adequately address these serious issues.
OCUFA encourages the Concordia University of Edmonton administration to sit down with faculty and negotiate a fair collective agreement that treats the university’s faculty with the respect they deserve. Those wishing to add their voices in support of the university’s faculty, should send an email to the university’s president at: https://makeitfair.caut.ca/cuefa. More information on the strike can be found here: https://www.cuefa.ca.
Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty, academic librarians, and other academic professionals in 31 member associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca