A letter of commitment
Dear Sad Goodbye,
For the most part, I have resisted responding to blog comments, choosing instead to follow mutely the dialogue that develops in the various reader responses to my posts. But I just can’t bring myself to remain silent about your comment (see comments on A silent promise).
I want to respond first by thanking you for your thoughtful words on our shared predicament at Acadia University. I can find nothing to disagree with in your assessment of the university and its systemic problems, nor in the immediate solutions you present as conditions for staying. And I do not in any way begrudge you your decision to convince your spouse to leave, though it does sadden me.
Nevertheless, I also want to respond with a commitment. And I fully understand that this commitment may do little to change your mind about Acadia’s potential to solve its own problems and, therefore, may do nothing to counter your belief that you and your family must leave to reclaim the dignity Acadia has taken from you. One of my first acts upon returning to work, should Gail Dinter-Gottlieb still be President of the university, will be to co-sponsor a senate motion of non-confidence in her presidency. This motion is already in the works. However, while writing my post yesterday, I thought of another motion that I would like to bring before senate, and reading your response to that post has convinced me of its merits. So I am also committing to sponsor a senate motion of non-confidence in the executive of the BOG. I do not know whether Acadia’s senate has ever debated such a motion before, but if ever there were a time for such a debate, it is now. While on the line Monday morning, I will discuss the implications of that motion with senate colleagues in hopes of finding a co-sponsor. I’m not anticipating any difficulties.
Unfortunately, even if they pass, these motions (and the counterparts that most assuredly will be brought before Faculty Council), will only be the first corrective steps on a long path towards recuperating and rebuilding Acadia University. In that sense, while I sympathize with the urgency of your demands because I would like to see the same changes effected immediately, I am convinced that many of us will have to commit to a long struggle before we will be able to lay any claim to victory in achieving them. We can only hope that we do not suffer the irreparable faculty hemorrhage that your comment anticipates before that victory has been achieved.
Yours in sympathy and solidarity,
John
Nick Scott replied:
I wanted to share this letter with you. I hope you like it.
In Solidarity,
Nick Scott
THIS IS YOUR STRUGGLE TOO!
AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR FELLOW STUDENTS AT ACADIA UNIVERSITY
By Jennifer Chisholm, Sarah MacDonald and Nick Scott
The strike by the Acadia University Faculty Association has entered its third week. This work stoppage is the result of several months of negotiations and the failure of the administration to live up to its previous agreements. The Acadia Student Union decided to remain neutral on the issue after failing to meet quorum at a meeting questionably held on a Friday night several weeks ago. The meeting was immediately adjourned with approximately 600 students present. The ASU allowed all 600 of those students – who came to have their voices heard – to leave without so much as polling our opinions. Setting aside the topic of Student Union politics, we would like to address those students who have decided to remain neutral along with the ASU; disengaged from the issue due to frustration, misinformation or neutrality. To you we say: This is your struggle too! Rather than follow our union in adopting a neutral stance, we can learn a lesson in solidarity from those on the picket lines protecting the quality of our education.
Some argue that those who remain neutral are simply representing the best interests of the students. This is not necessarily true. It is no longer as simple as trying to get both sides to sit down and talk. Acadia’s BoG continues to return to the table designating the exact same amount to salaries, distributing it differently each time. Entering our third week of the strike, there is no more time to waste. Students need to take a stand. Our professors are working for pay that falls far below both national and regional averages. It is time for the BoG to actually make an offer AUFA will be able to seriously consider. We need to get back into the classroom so our tuition can actually go towards getting an education, rather than straight into the pockets of the BoG (who have been saving $57,000 per day for each day AUFA has been on strike).
The AUFA’s demands are far from unreasonable. Currently these demands include: limiting a reduction in faculty, increasing compensation in line with the regional average, addressing the low wages, lack of benefits and lack access to development/research funds available to part time faculty, establishing an Employment Systems review of equity, as well as providing benefits for full-time faculty such as a dental plan and aiding in the provision of appropriate, affordable day care. These are reasonable demands and should be expected from any employer, especially one ranked the Top Undergraduate Institution in Canada three short years ago.
Some students argue from a consumer point-of-view stating, “I paid for my education and therefore shouldn’t be prevented from receiving that education by a strike”. There is nothing inherently wrong with this position except that it is often followed with a statement of misplaced blame. This struggle, our struggle, is about the principle of protecting quality education at Acadia. Guilting our professors into going back to work will not solve anything. And what’s more, we believe it will encourage the administration to continue to treat its workers poorly, while filling their own pockets with the fruits of “declining enrollment”.
Up until this point, AUFA have, in each round of negotiations, amended their demands significantly, whereas the Board of Governors has repeatedly refused to negotiate their financial position. In order for negotiations to actually be productive, both sides need to come to the table willing to work with each other. Responsibility lies with both sides. Deciding whether the strike continues or not, does not simply fall on AUFA’s shoulders, it also falls on the shoulders of the Board of Governors who have been offering the same salary package in various forms to the faculty since June. It is not a simple choice, or some sort of vacation for the picketers. Many students, parents and community members neglect to consider who holds the majority of power in this situation. The answer is quite simply: the Board of Governors.
As with any labour dispute, it is the employers who hold the power. It is the employer who is in control of salary, regulations, benefits (or lack thereof) and working conditions. It is the employer who tends to have overwhelming access to media and other resources. When an employer not only fails to provide adequate working conditions, but is also unwilling to negotiate these conditions, the only power employees have is to agree to a work stoppage; coming together in solidarity and putting pressure on the employer to meet their demands. The ball is always in the hands of the employer, in this case the BoG. The strike that occurred approximately four years ago ended when Acadia’s President, Dr. Gail Gottlieb stated she was committed to designating more financial resources to faculty. AUFA is now on strike again because Dr. Gottlieb and the BoG failed to live up to their commitment. If AUFA gave in to pressure now and went back to work, they would not only be compromising their integrity, they would also be compromising our quality of education.
What’s more, forward-thinking students may realize we are likely to find ourselves in very similar positions – as workers – in the near future. We can only hope for unionized jobs with strong unions such as the AUFA, fighting to maintain or improve our labour standards. We also cannot forget that it is firmly in the BoGs (the employer) interest to keep faculty salaries low and administration salaries high. It is clear from the distribution ratio of the budget that Acadia does just that. So while faculty are being labeled as greedy for making the aforementioned demands, a quick look at the admin-faculty salary ratio will reveal the ridiculousness of such a claim.
As current students and future employees, we share the interests of the AUFA. Those of us who will end up working at a university or unionized job one day must realize this is our struggle too. We have the potential to actively contribute to the preservation of our own education via our participation in this struggle. The labour movement is everyone’s movement because it is fighting for our collective future as employees. Considering the correlation between a quality education and quality-working environment for faculty, not only is it for our future, as employees, that the profs are fighting but also our immediate circumstances as students. The AUFA should be commended for their unwavering solidarity during this work stoppage. In fact, it is this concern for ALL members of AUFA collectively, which has stymied the Board of Governors’ repeated attempts to “divide and conquer.” The collective struggle of unions means the future of equitable and dignified employment. We can’t all work for the administration, after all. So to the students of Acadia and the members of the Wolfville community: this is your struggle too! Get out there and fight for your future!
This is one way how: http://stucanada.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5464823750
Because the BoG is the only side that has access to our contact information, please visit these websites for more detailed information on the strike:
http://www.caut.ca/aufa/negotiations/index.htm
http://stucanada.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5953234491
http://aufastrike2007.wordpress.com
November 3, 2007 at 9:38 pm. Permalink.
Sue Britton replied:
I have already mentioned how much I value this blog; I’d also like to add that I am proud to be a student at Acadia when I read a letter such as the one above, written by fellow students. I am proud that my professors have taken a strong and unified stance, knowing that holding firm will eventually result in a better Acadia. The video of the “silent march” was a surprisingly emotional experience that gave me goosebumps. It also made me proud to be a student at this university. Keep up the faith; keep up the solidarity; follow this through to a successful outcome, no matter what media brush you may be tarnished with. I expect nothing less. YOU are what makes my experience at this university so valuable and appreciated.
To echo the above, this is our struggle, too! This is a life lesson for all students before they graduate and enter the “real world”. I am proud of the faculty.
As well, kudos to you for keeping me informed.
November 3, 2007 at 11:13 pm. Permalink.
Josh replied:
John,
Thank you for this blog. If I were still a member of Senate, I would support the resolutions you mention unequivocally. In fact, I would call on the President and most of the Board (particularly Ron Smith) simply to resign immediately. Arguably, they should be called on to do so now. At a certain point, too, the province must become invovled, since it holds the keys to the inevitable restructuring of Acadia’s governance structure.
I like the sounds of
Purge the Board! Down with Gottlieb!
but maybe they’re a bit too strident.
Maybe.
Best wishes,
Josh Gould
November 4, 2007 at 9:42 pm. Permalink.