YUFA Ad Hoc CUPE Support & Communications Committee: Communiqué on Affirmative Action in CUPE 3903 Conversions

4 Dec 08 – Communiqué on Affirmative Action in CUPE 3903 Conversions

YUFA affirms its commitment to Affirmative Action in all appointments throughout the University, as outlined in Article 12.21. This follows a previous communiqué dated 20 Nov. 08, in which YUFA affirmed its support of the Conversion Program and reiterated CUPE 3903’s position that it should be continued and extended.

This mechanism in the CUPE 3903 contract is intended to counteract the marginality of contract faculty and particularly commends the conversion of women, an equity seeking group, to tenure track teaching positions. In order to promote a fully just policy, however, it is important that these mechanisms do not contribute to further marginalising Aboriginal and racialised scholars, or those who are differently abled. In this light, YUFA advocates that the University follow binding guidelines to include these designated groups.

Some context:

The issue of an adequate employment equity policy has been a longstanding one within CUPE 3903. For more than a decade, Aboriginal workers, those racialised as minorities, and those who are differently abled have been working to encourage the CUPE 3903 general membership and the administration to adopt more effective employment equity policies. During the duration of the last contract, CUPE 3903's Equity Committee repeatedly asked the University to implement current equity measures under the Federal Contractor's Programme (more on this below) and has been met with constant resistance from the Employer. YUFA wishes to lend moral and political support to these members of CUPE 3903.

Research on racism within the academy has documented that indigenous peoples and racialised minorities are underrepresented in the faculty. A study of CUPE 3903 contract faculty suggests that this pattern is reflected within CUPE 3903. This raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current Affirmative Action policies for conversions. As a recipient of federal funds, the University is obliged to follow the guideline of the Federal Contractors Programme (FCP). This guideline requires that the Employer implement an employment equity program for four designated groups; (1) indigenous peoples, (2) visible minorities, (3) women; (4) those who are differently abled. CUPE 3903 members have been trying to ensure that the Employer meet its obligation under the FCP through an effective AA program that address all four of the designated groups.

Together with CUPE 3903, and in line with the FCP and the YUFA Collective Agreement, we demand that the Employer put forward a policy that more effectively incorporates Affirmative Action for these designated groups into the conversion process.

YUFA Ad Hoc CUPE Support & Communications Committee

Commenting on this Story is closed.