Atlantic Academic Union

05/21/2026

05/12/2026

May 13 @ 12pm and @ 5:30pm. Members please check your email for the Zoom link to join us for a Townhall.

05/11/2026

https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/librarians-eliminated-by-nova-scotia-community-college-cuts-prompted-by-budget-pressures

Union and staff warn students could lose critical academic and research support services

05/05/2026

National Red Dress Day is a day of remembrance and activism to honour the lives of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people who have been murdered or have gone missing due to systemic violence or discrimination. The red dress has become a powerful symbol for missing and murdered Indigenous women, rooted in the belief that red is the only color spirits can see. It serves as a call for the spirits of these women to find their way home. Red Dress Day brings national attention to the disproportionate violence experienced by Indigenous women, who continue to face significantly higher rates of victimization, intimate partner violence, and incarceration compared to non‑Indigenous populations.

05/04/2026

Day 3 at CAUT Council focused heavily on governance, elections, and setting direction for the year ahead.
A key development for our sector: Shauna MacDonald (ACIFA) was elected as the Representative-at-Large for Colleges & Institutes on the CAUT Executive Committee. This gives a dedicated voice for colleges and institutes at the national executive level and strengthens the sector’s ability to influence CAUT priorities and decision-making.
In addition to this role, the CAUT Executive Committee appoints the College and Institute Academic Staff Committee, which advises the Executive on issues specific to academic staff working in colleges and institutes. Together, these structures help ensure that the unique perspectives and challenges of our sector are represented both at the decision-making table and through ongoing advisory work. This creates a clearer pathway for issues like ours to be advanced nationally.
There was also considerable discussion throughout the day about the growing need for more coordinated and collaborative bargaining across regions and sectors. The message was clear that well-researched proposals alone are no longer enough at the table—there is increasing emphasis on alignment, shared strategy, and collective leverage.
Related to this, CAUT continues to focus on issues affecting Contract Academic Staff (CAS), a term most often used in university settings to describe those in non-permanent roles. While AAU members at NSCC are not part of a tenure-based system, many of the same issues being addressed—job stability, fair compensation, workload, and equitable treatment—are shared across sectors. This is an area where CAUT’s research and advocacy can support broader conversations that are relevant to our members as well.
Other business included approval discussions on the 2026–2027 budget, appointment processes, and reports from standing committees and working groups, which will inform CAUT’s ongoing policy and advocacy work.
At the gala dinner celebrating CAUT’s 75th anniversary, I had the opportunity to sit with several past CAUT Presidents. I asked each of them, in one sentence, why our Members should join CAUT. Their responses were simple but telling:
• “Because when you need us, CAUT will be there for you.”
• “Solidarity.”
While there are measurable benefits to joining CAUT, it’s often the less tangible, support, collective strength, and shared purpose—that provide the greatest value to member organizations.

05/01/2026

The AAU is in Ottawa this week attending the 100th CAUT Council Meeting, where we’ve been invited as we gather information about CAUT and its services.

Day 2 is a full schedule of Council meetings, with discussions covering policy, governance, academic freedom, and member priorities.

As part of this process, we’ve been speaking with other member associations to better understand their experiences. One question we’ve been asking is: beyond the defence fund, what CAUT resources have been most valuable to your organization?

Two responses that consistently come up are:
✔️ Access to CAUT’s legal expertise
✔️ Support and guidance during collective bargaining and negotiations

We are here to listen, learn, and gather information so we can report back to our members and support informed decision-making about potential membership in CAUT

On February 23, the Nova Scotia government tabled its 2026-2027 budget with more than $20 million in university funding cuts, including a $3.7-million reduction in graduate scholarships.

04/30/2026

AAU was invited to the 100th CAUT Council Meeting. On day 1 of the Conference AAU Director C. Culberson met with the Atlantic Council (Acadia, St. Mary's, MUN, UdeM).

04/29/2026

Join fellow workers and our allies at Victoria Park on May 1 to celebrate May Day 2026, celebrating victories for workers at home and abroad.

WHAT: May Day Picnic - Solidarity at Home & Across Borders
WHEN: Friday, May 1, 2026 at 12pm
WHERE: Victoria Park (5720 Spring Garden Rd)

Free samosas and drinks!!

04/16/2026

Members of the AAU, join us for our yearly PD event taking place May 28-May 30. This year's theme is "Revitalize-Inspiring New Perspectives". Visit the website, download the app and register for some wonderful Professional Development and entertainment. (AAU MEMBERS ONLY)