Capilano Faculty Association continues to support MoveUp’s Strike and urges you to join the call for an end to the strike.
July 10th, 2023
(North Vancouver, BC) The Capilano University Faculty Association (CFA) wishes to express its
continued and unwavering support and solidarity with the striking members of MoveUp. They
have been holding a picket line for the past 5 weeks at Capilano University in the most
exemplary and determined manner.
The CFA is deeply grateful that MoveUp granted a general picket pass for faculty and students
on June 28th. This will allow faculty to return to work and to resume classes without the picket
line being crossed. The CFA appreciates and praises MoveUp members for their ongoing
concern for students and the learning experiences at Capilano University. The CFA also lauds
MoveUp for its continuing consultation and collaboration with our union.
The CFA joined MoveUp members on the picket lines with the goal of urging the employer to
return to the negotiating table. The CFA’s objective was to persuade and encourage the
employer to discuss in a meaningful manner issues related to the right to grieve and challenge
unfair and arbitrary decisions about flexible and remote work arrangements. We are extremely
pleased that the collaboration between Move Up and the CFA resulted in successful
discussions on this matter.
Although MoveUp’s strike has been an arduous process that has posed challenges for all
members of the Capilano University community, we should emphasize that these events have
nurtured the collaboration between the two unions. As a result of this strike, members from both
unions have developed even closer bonds of solidarity and mutual respect. The strike has
provided an opportunity to strengthen our understanding of one another and an enhanced
awareness of the difficulties that members of each union face with an employer that prioritizes
budget surpluses and capital projects above the well-being of staff, faculty members, and
students. This strike has become a ground-breaking event and a catalyst for future work that
both unions are willing to continue via joint committees and activities.
Bonds of solidarity and communication have been forged beyond the local university
community. Numerous Faculty Associations have shown and displayed active support. The CFA
is particularly grateful with the Vancouver Community College Faculty Association (VCCFA),
Douglas College Faculty Association (DCFA), Emily Carr University Faculty Association
(ECUFA), and the Education & Training Employees' Association (ETEA) for visiting the picket
lines and engaging in activities of direct support.
In addition, the CFA wishes to express its gratitude to the Federation of Post Secondary
Educators of BC (FPSE) and the BC Federation of Labour (BCFED) for providing support.
FPSE supplied assistance that ranged from legal advice to essential financial resources that
enabled the CFA to join the picket lines. The BCFED added its support with the presence of
Secretary-Treasurer, Hermender Singh Kailley, who came to provide a motivating and inspiring
speech at the picket lines on June 14th.
Although faculty members are returning to work, MoveUP members will remain on the picket
line at the Capilano University main campus in North Vancouver, CapU Lonsdale, and the
Sunshine Coast Campus (Sechelt) until a tentative agreement has been reached on the return-
to-work protocols. We are dismayed that the administration wants to retain the ability to
investigate and discipline employees for activities that have occurred during the strike.
Whereas the university administration is not showing any desire to reach a final settlement to
end this long and preventable strike;
and whereas this administration has continued to engage in punitive measures that put all
members that have observed the picket lines in precarious economic, emotional, and
psychological conditions;
and whereas this strike is hitting in a disproportionate manner members of equity-seeking
groups, most notably single mothers and members from racialized communities,
We appeal to anyone, and everyone, concerned with Higher Education in BC and Canada to
write letters urging the university president, its Board of Governors, and the Senate to settle the
collective agreement for the MoveUp members.
We also urge you to write to the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and the
politicians and leaders of your community so they are aware of the ongoing situation. We
implore you to take this action immediately so that our colleagues can return to their jobs, serve
our students, and begin the task of rebuilding the community that we have worked so hard to
create.
Please send your letters of support and concern to:
Mr. Paul Dangerfield, President
Capilano University 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, BC V7J 3H5
President email: pdangerfield@capilanou.ca
Ms. Ash Amlani, Chair, Board of Governors,
Capilano University 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, BCV7J 3H5
Board email: lesleycook@capilanou.ca Lesley Cook, Executive Assistant Board of Governors
Chair email: ashraf.amlani@gmail.com Ash Amlani
Robert Thomson Senate Vice-Chair
Capilano University 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, BCV7J 3H5
Senate Vice-Chair Robert Thomson email: robertthomson3@capilanou.ca
Senate email: mjukich@capilanou.ca Mary Jukich, Senate Administrative Assistant
Honourable Selina Robinson
Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
PO Box 9080 Stn Prov Govt. Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
About Capilano Faculty Association (CFA):
The CFA's work takes place on the sovereign and unceded Homelands of the Lil’wat, xwməθkwəỷəm (Musqueam), ̓ shíshálh (Sechelt), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh(Squamish), SəỈílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and Stó꞉lō Nations.
Capilano University Faculty Association (CFA), previously Capilano College Faculty Association, has proudly been representing this faculty since 1969. The membership has grown from 19 instructors to almost 600 and includes faculty from our North Vancouver, Squamish, and Sunshine Coast campuses.
We have addressed and continue to address issues of faculty workload, professional development,access to benefit plans, and fair and open processes such as evaluation, appointments, assignment ofworkload. We also continue to work at our institution and the nearby communities raising awareness in abroad issues related to social justice which include Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), anti-racism andHuman Rights, Truth and Reconciliation, and Climate Action.
For images, interviews or questions, please contact: cfa@capilanou.ca
Website: https://www.capilanofaculty.com/
Twitter: @CapUFaculty, @MoveUPTogether, @CapilanoU, @bcfed, @CanadianLabour
Facebook: CapUFaculty, MoveUPTogether
Instagram: @Capilanouniversityfaculty
Suggested Hashtags: #CapU, #bclab, #NorthVan