For Immediate Release
Friday, March 20, 1998
Representatives of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) and the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of B.C. (CUFA/BC) today announced they have reached an agreement with the Technical University of British Columbia (TechBC) to lift an eight-month boycott of Canada's newest university.
"The agreement is the result of three months of negotiation between TechBC, CAUT and CUFA/BC," said Tony Sheppard, President of CUFA/BC. "Under this agreement, the TechBC Board of Governors will implement policies that guarantee the academic freedom of academic staff and students, that put academic decision making in the hands of academic staff and students, and that guarantee the institution will hire academic staff into, what are for all practical purposes, tenured positions."
CAUT and CUFA/BC started an international boycott of TechBC in July 1997,when the provincial legislature passed into law the Technical University of British Columbia Act. The organizations found many problems in the legislation, which they said could lead to violations of academic freedom, and would seriously undermine the rights of academics to make decisions on academic matters.
"In signing this agreement, we have not solved all problems at TechBC," said Bill Bruneau, President of CAUT. "But we have answered the most important questions, and all three parties have committed themselves to on-going discussions and cooperation."
The agreement does not amend the TechBC legislation, but rather makes use of certain powers of delegation given the TechBC Board of Governors. Under those powers, TechBC's Board will now delegate a wide range of academic powers to an Academic Planning Board comprised of academic staff, students, and external representatives.
"This agreement is the best we were able to achieve under defective legislation," said Robert Clift, Executive Director of CUFA/BC. "Our next task is to persuade the provincial government to fix the legislation."
As the result of this agreement, CAUT has suspended all boycott activities pending the formal lifting of the boycott by its Council in early May, and CUFA/BC has ceased all boycott activities.
CAUT and CUFA/BC will continue to monitor the situation at TechBC and work with the administration and board. CAUT and CUFA/BC will also offer advice to academic staff members considering employment at TechBC.
"The agreement is somewhat complex, and we want potential academic staff members to understand it fully," Clift said.
The organizations are also pleased that the provincial government has begun to answer the criticism that TechBC would draw funding away from the other universities.
"We were glad to hear Advanced Education Minister Andrew Petter announce last week the allocation of new funding for TechBC," Sheppard said. "We expect the province will continue to put in the necessary new money, and not drain it away from the existing universities."
CAUT represents 25,000 university professors, professional librarians and other academic staff at universities across Canada. CUFA/BC represents 3,500 university professors, professional librarians, and other academic staff at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, and University of Northern British Columbia.
- 30 -
Full details of the agreement are available on the Internet at: http://cufabc.harbour.sfu.ca/tubc/index.html
For further information, please contact:
Bill Bruneau, President, Canadian Association of University Teachers,
(604) 224-3889 (Home)
Tony Sheppard, President, Confederation of University Faculty Associations of B.C.
(604) 822-2865 (Office)
Robert Clift, Executive Director, Confederation of University Faculty Associations of B.C.
(604) 291-5201 (Office), or (604) 817-1649 (Cell Phone - 24 Hours)