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------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- >From: [log in to unmask] >Date: Sun, 05 Nov 95 20:20:00 CST > >Dear Friends and Colleagues, > >I am writing to you to alert you to the existence of >a strike by faculty members (including myself) at >the University of Manitoba. As of today the strike >is 19 days old and talks between the faculty association >and the administration have again broken down. > The dispute between the two parties is not about salaries >(the faculty association has agreed to take 21 days off >without pay over the next three years). It is about >how the university will go about downsizing over the >next few years. Both sides agree on the need for >downsizing. Where the disagreement exists is over >how this shall be accomplished. > The administration proposes to introduce a discontinuance >policy which would give it the authority to terminate >faculty positions on an individual basis. Although >it has allowed for input into such decisions from >various academic bodies, none of this input is binding. >The upshot is that the board of governors, an >absolute majority of whom are political appointees of >the provincial government, has the final say over which >individual faculty members are to be terminated. > It is my opinion and that of the faculty association >that this discontinuance policy constitutes a real threat >to academic freedom at the University of Manitoba, and >by its precedent to other Canadian universities. Regardless >of the intent of the policy to ameliorate the current >financial difficulties of the university (and the >province), once established, the policy would stifle >inquiry and the freedom to pursue the truth wherever it >may lead. Without this freedom, this university and >others which fall after it, will cease to be the >hotbeds of challenging ideas and new directions for >Canada and the world. > Those of you who know me, know I took strike action >with regret for the disruption it has caused my students. >I never imagined when I embarked on an academic career >that I would find myself walking a picket line as I >have been through rain, sleet and snow (we are grateful >that at least it's not yet January!). Moreover, I find >myself sympathetic to the financial plight of the >university and the province. The University must continue >to downsize (the Faculty has decreased in number by 40% >since 1991), but there are other ways to do it which >do not threaten academic freedom. These include incentives >for early retirement, and reductions at the level of >programs and departments, all of which the faculty association >supports. > What can be done? Although the administration has >adopted a hard line throughout the 9-month negotiation >process, there are signs that they are beginning to >soften under pressure from public opinion. Especially >important in this context is opinion from individuals >outside the University of Manitoba. A professor of >Astronomy at Harvard University recently expressed his >concern over the situation in a letter to the editor >of the Winnipeg Free Press and was also interviewed on >the local CBC radio. This had a valuable impact, but >more expressions of concern from all sources is necessary. > I invite you to take a few moments to write a letter >or send an e-mail to any of the following individuals or >organizations listed below (or to me personally and I >will direct it to an appropriate recipient) expressing >your concern over the impending threat to academic >freedom at the University of Manitoba. If you would >like further information before writing please contact >me and I will be happy to provide what I can. Also, >if you do send a letter or email please let me know - >your support means a great deal in trying times. >Many thanks. > >Sincerely > >Ed Johnson >Assistant Professor >Department of Psychology >University of Manitoba > >P.S. You can get up to date strike info from the >following web pages: >1. http://www.xpressnet.com/umfa (faculty ass'n page) >2. http://www.umanitoba.ca (admin home page) > >Address your concerns to: > >Dr. Arnold Naimark > President, University of Manitoba > 201 Administration Building > University of Manitoba > Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2 > Phone: 474-9345 > FAX: 261-1318 > e-mail: [log in to unmask] > >Board of Governors Chairperson Keith Findlay > Scarrow & Donald > Five Donald Street > Winnipeg, MB, R3R 3T3 > Phone: 982-9820 > FAX: 474-2886 > >The Honourable Gary Filmon > Premier > 204 Legislative Building > 450 Broadway Ave. > Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0V8 > Phone: 945-3714 > FAX: 949-1484 > e-mail: [log in to unmask] > >The Honourable Vic Toews > Minister of Labour > 156 Legislative Building > 450 Broadway Avenue > Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0V8 > >The Honourable Linda McIntosh > Minister of Education and Training > 168 Legislative Building > 450 Broadway > Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0V8 > >University of Manitoba Faculty Association Strike Headquarters > Unit 2-2725 Pembina Highway > Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2H5 > Phone: 269-6909 > Fax: 269-6917 > e-mail: [log in to unmask] > World Wide Web site: http://www.Xpressnet.com/umfa/ > ****************************************************************************** Doug McKenzie-Mohr Department of Psychology St. Thomas University Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5G3 (506) 452 0634 x432 (506) 450 9615 fax