FEW

Film Screening – In Search of Professor Precarious

Film available online (password – MakeItFair. Available from Oct 18 at noon to Oct 25 at midnight MDT) and recorded panel discussions are available here.

IN SEARCH OF PROFESSOR PRECARIOUS introduces you to Jen, a young sessional trying to balance teaching, caring for her young family and finishing her PhD, so that she can be considered for a decent university job; Sandra Mac, fighting to reverse the 23% pay cut handed to her and her long time precarious faculty colleagues; Marco, leading a drive to get the sessional majority in his faculty association their democratic rights; and Pam, a choreographer and a leader in the largest higher ed strike in Canadian history. Join the fight for equality portrayed in this dramatic, moving and revealing film.                

“A useful tool… for anyone trying to understand and challenge the hidden casualization of post-secondary education”

–C. Sundaram, CAUT Bulletin

Organizing to Win for Contract Academic Staff: A CAUT Members’ Panel

October 19, 11:00am – 12:30pm

Hear case studies from across the country on how academic staff associations have organized around and won victories for contract academic staff. Hosted by CAUT on zoom. 

Intellectual Property in a Time of Remote Learning for Contract Academic Staff: A Webinar with Dr. Sam Trosow

October 20, 11:00am – 12:00pm

Join Dr. Sam Trosow, a professor at the University of Western Ontario, who will discuss the issues of ownership and control of course content for contract academic staff in a time of remote learning.  Hosted by CAUT on zoom.

A Keynote Address by Dr. Liz Morrish

October 21, 11:00am – 12pm

Liz Morrish, an independent scholar and activist for resistance to managerial appropriation of the university and co-author of the book Academic Irregularities, will present a talk titled, “A plague on universities: How the pandemic has created breach points for the future of labour, pedagogy and values in higher education.” Hosted by CAUT on Zoom.

MRU Contract Faculty Town Hall

October 21, 3:00-4:00 pm 

Town hall style meeting for MRU contract faculty to discuss the collective agreement, regularizing employment/job security, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on contract faculty workload (additionally, any other topics that you may bring to the meeting). Contract members who are unable to attend are welcome to contact D.A. directly at contractrepresentative@mrfa.net. Hosted by the MRFA’s Contract Member Representative on Zoom.

October 22, A Social Media Day of Action

Stay tuned for shareables and ways to engage online.

A Zoom Social for Contract Academic Staff

October 23, 11:00am – 12pm

Join contract academic staff from coast to coast in an informal Zoom social. Folks will be put into breakout rooms to get to know one another, talk about the unique issues contract academic staff are experiencing, discuss strategies to improve working conditions, and join together in celebration of the work and contributions contract academic staff make to our universities and colleges. Hosted by CAUT on Zoom.

MRU FEW Wrap Up and Professor Precarious Discussion Panel

October 23, 3:00-4:00pm 

Faculty are invited to a wrap up event and panel discussion: review progress made, lessons learned and discuss where we go from here. Speakers include:

• D.A. Dirks, MRFA Contract Faculty Representative
• Irene Shankar, MRFA Member at Large
• Lee Easton, MRFA President
• Marc Schroeder, CAUT Representative-at-large and former MRFA President
• Sarika Bose, Chair of the CAUT contract Academic Staff committee

This session will be moderated by Frank Cotae, MRFA Advocacy Officer, and all MRFA members are invited to attend. Members who are unable to attend are welcome to email office@mrfa.net to view a recording of the session. Hosted on Zoom.