Open AccessSessional Contract Faculty, Unionization, and Academic Freedom
Author(s) -
Stephanie Ross,
Larry Savage,
James E. Watson
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
canadian journal of higher education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2293-6602
pISSN - 0316-1218
DOI - 10.47678/cjhe.vi0.188989
Subject(s) - academic freedom , collective bargaining , freedom of association , unit (ring theory) , union density , political science , freedom of contract , law and economics , labour economics , law , higher education , sociology , economics , psychology , mathematics education , human rights
This article explores the relationship between unionization and academic freedom protections for sessional faculty in Ontario universities. Specifically, we compare university policies and contract provisions with a view to determining whether unionized sessionals hired on a per-course basis have stronger academic freedom protections than their non-union counterparts. We then explore whether particular kinds of bargaining unit structures are more conducive to achieving stronger academic freedom provisions. Finally, we consider whether academic freedom can be exercised effectively by sessionals, whether unionized or not. We conclude that unionization does help to produce stronger academic freedom protections for sessionalfaculty and that faculty association bargaining unit structures are most likely to help deliver this outcome. We further conclude that academic freedom is difficult to exercise for sessional faculty, regardless of union status, but that unionization offers greater protections for sessionals facing repercussions as a result of asserting their academic freedom.