In early September, members of CUFA’s executive and bargaining teams participated in the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) regional school. The timely theme—Strengthening Power at the Bargaining Table—and the convenient location on the Loyola campus made CUFA’s participation a no-brainer.

Faculty associations from Eastern Canada and Quebec that will soon be entering negotiations—like CUFA—shared their strategic ideas and experiences during workshops effectively facilitated by the CAUT team. The idea was put forward that, in order to have leverage at the bargaining table, bargaining and member mobilization teams should join forces. The CUPE took note. 

Among the sister associations in attendance were the newly accredited Association of McGill Academic Staff of the School of Continuing Studies (AMASCS), Association of McGill Library Academic Staff (AMLAS), Association of McGill Professors of the Faculty of Arts (AMPFA), and McGill Professors of Education (AMPE), as well as the Syndicat des professeures et professeurs de l’Université de Sherbrooke (SPPUS) and Syndicat des professeurs et professeures de l’université Laval (SPUL) and the Association des professeures et professeurs de l’Université de Moncton, campus d’Edmundston (APPUMCE).

Inspiring strategies and ideas emerged from these workshops, including collecting data on member demands, identifying natural leaders to spearhead mobilization efforts, effective communication, and escalating pressure tactics. Taken together, these actions strengthen solidarity within the union, giving it more weight and solid, well-supported arguments at the bargaining table.