No. 69November 29, 2021
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Manitoba Government Must Stop Interfering in Negotiations
University of Manitoba Faculty Association
Strike Continues
Members of the Faculty Association at the University of Manitoba (UMFA) have been on strike since November 2. The 1,200 professors, librarians and instructors of the UMFA have had their wages frozen for five years, and members now rank second-last in terms of compensation among Canada’s largest 15 research universities. The University of Manitoba posted a large surplus in their recent fiscal report.
Scholar Strike Canada, in its statement of support for the striking UMFA members, points out: “Working conditions are learning conditions. The university administrators can fairly compensate UMFA members, but have chosen to allow the provincial government to continue interfering in negotiations. The provincial PC government has imposed an unreasonably low cap on wages. Government interference makes free and fair bargaining impossible.” They say the Government of Manitoba continues to interfere with free collective bargaining between the University of Manitoba and the UMFA, putting the future of public education in Manitoba in jeopardy, and add “The government’s interference has led to a breakdown in negotiations and has forced a strike.”
“While we are dismayed that the University’s President Michael Bennaroch refused to protect the independence of the university, we are equally disappointed that the provincial government continues to interfere in our negotiations by imposing their wage mandate,” said Orvie Dingwall, UMFA President.
Renewal Update supports the just position of the UMFA, and joins in asking everyone to add their voice to the call for the provincial government to immediately withdraw its imposed bargaining mandate and allow UMFA and the University to bargain in good faith so they can reach a fair and mutually agreeable deal.
Standing Up for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom
Canadian Association of University Teachers Rejects Controversial Definition of Anti-Semitism
At its 91st Council meeting held November 26, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) took a bold stand in defence of freedom of speech and academic freedom by rejecting demands it submit to the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) so-called working definition of anti-Semitism. A resolution adopted unanimously by delegates at the meeting took a strong position against the IHRA definition, which conflates criticism and protest of Israel with anti-Semitism and is widely understood as a threat to academic freedom. The resolution was moved by the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA) and seconded by the Syndicat général des professeurs et professeures de l’Université de Montréal (SGPUM).
CAUT represents more than 70,000 faculty and academic staff in Canada.
CAUT has stated that it “opposes” the adoption of the IHRA definition by Canadian academic institutions, “supports the academic freedom of its members and recognizes the need to safeguard the rights of scholars to critique all states, including the state of Israel, without fear of outside political influence, cuts to funding, censorship, harassment, threats, and intimidation.”
CAUT’s resolution follows similar motions adopted by more than thirty faculty associations and academic unions across Canada, as well as by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA).
The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism has been produced in the midst of a global campaign to silence criticism of the State of Israel and to suppress and criminalize support for the Palestinian people’s right to be. Those in authority who are trying to impose the IHRA definition claim to be doing so to oppose hate speech, but are in fact defaming and trying to promote fear and hatred against all who support the just cause of the Palestinian people. Scholars who have been mislabelled as anti-Semitic in this context include: Edward Said, Rabab Abdulhadi, Nadia Abu El-Haj, Steven Salaita, Norman Finkelstein, Angela Y. Davis, Marc Lamont Hill, Jasbir K. Puar, Nick Estes, Cornell West, Achille Mbembe, and many others.
Call for Academics to Sign Open Letter
Individual scholars are being called on to join the more than 600 scholars who have already signed the Open Letter by Canadian academics opposing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, organized by Independent Jewish Voices of Canada. Scholars are also called on to disseminate this open letter amongst their colleagues.
The so-called working definition on anti-Semitism is a major international effort by Israel and lobby groups, to which Canada adheres, which brands criticism of Israel and Palestine solidarity activism as “the new anti-Semitism.” They are advocating for the passage of the IHRA’s controversial definition of anti-Semitism by all levels of government, as well as institutions such as universities and police departments. The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism is a flawed document which equates anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism and, if implemented, poses a real threat to academic freedom, freedom of expression and the right to protest.
On its website, where the open letter is reproduced, Independent Jewish Voices states: “To be clear, anti-Semitism is a real problem and must be fought in all its forms. Independent Jewish Voices is active in the struggle against anti-Semitism. We reject all forms of racism and oppression. We believe that anti-Semitism is intimately tied to other forms of hate, and that it increases when racism, xenophobia and intolerance of all sorts are on the rise. For these reasons, we believe that the important battle against anti-Semitism is actually undermined when opposition to Israel’s oppression of the Palestinians is branded anti-Semitic.
If you’re a Canadian academic and want to sign the letter, click here.
Open Letter
We, the undersigned members of the Canadian academic community wish to express our opposition to the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Anti-Semitism by academic institutions and other public bodies in Canada.
Anti-Semitism is an imminent and increasingly deadly threat to Jews. However, we do not believe that the adoption of this definition serves the purpose of defeating this insidious form of hatred. The IHRA definition, which has recently been adopted by the Canadian government, is worded in such a way as to intentionally equate legitimate criticisms of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism. This conflation undermines both the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality and the global struggle against anti-Semitism. It also serves to shield Israel from accountability to universal standards of human rights and international law. We believe that the adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism by Canadian academic institutions would create a “chilly climate” in relation to forms of teaching, research and activism on Israel and Palestine. We urge all those who value honest debate and academic freedom to reject the imposition of a definition that would imperil the pursuit of truth and the legitimate expression of dissent.
For more information, including Independent Jewish Voices’ full report on the IHRA definition, click here. Information on their academic campaign can be found here.
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