Solidarity by Association: the Unionization of Faculty, Academic Librarians and Support Staff at Carleton University (1973–1976)

Solidarity by Association: The Unionization of Faculty, Academic Librarians and Support Staff at Carleton University (1973–1976) by Martha Attridge Bufton, B.B.A (Hons) A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © 2013, Martha Attridge Bufton Abstract In the mid-1970s, three employee groups at Carleton University changed campus labour relations dramatically: the professors and librarians who belonged to the Carleton University Academic Staff formed the first Ontario faculty union in June 1975; nine months later the Ontario Labour Relations Board certified the Carleton University Support Staff Association as the bargaining agent for the administrative and technical staff. The history of faculty labour action at Carleton has been told but not that of either academic librarians or support staff so this case of unionism provides a unique opportunity to compare their experiences. Working primarily with oral histories, I argue that status was critical to mobilizing labour action at Carleton. These employees—many of whom were women—wanted a fair workplace but deliberately chose an independent association over a trade union because such “solidarity by association” was compatible with their deeply held beliefs about their work and place on campus. ii Acknowledgements This is first and foremost an oral history project and so the place of honour goes to the women and men who shared their stories—I am most grateful not only for their time but for the legacy they have left to those of us who are working at Carleton University and enjoying the benefits that come from a unionized workplace. In particular, I want to single out six people whose contributions were particularly generous: Sylvia Gruda and Pat Finn, leaders of the support staff association during the certification drive, were willing to meet with me more than once, share their personal papers and connect me with other individuals who might have interesting stories to tell. Likewise, librarians Susan Jackson and Frances Montgomery did not object to being part of a “captive audience” in the library when I needed to check out a fact or share a brilliant insight. I was especially blessed when, upon her retirement, Susan cleaned out her office and found six inches of files devoted to the Association of Professional Librarians of Carleton University, which she did not shred but gave to me. Frances, perhaps inspired by this treasure trove, promptly went to her basement and found her own files—some of which overlapped but many of which did not. Frances, who is a true mentor, is also responsible for my having the opportunities to turn the research on librarians into a book chapter and to learn how to cite provincial legislation. iii Finally, Don and Margaret McEown welcomed me into their home at a time that was challenging for them. Don was dying of cancer and could very easily have passed on the tiring task of answering the questions of someone he did not really know. But he did not and, more than that, he recognized an opportunity for Margaret to tell her story and for me to find out more about the lives of working women at Carleton during the 1960s and early 1970s. They were a delight to be with, particularly as with each interview (there were three in all for this research) they found more stories to share and laugh over. Don has since died but I am glad that I was able to capture some of their infectious enthusiasm, for the university and each other. I would also like to thank my supervisor Dr. Dominique Marshall for her interest, support and contributions to this thesis as well as my thesis examiners Dr. Joan Sangster (Trent University) and Dr. John Walsh (Carleton University) for their careful attention to my research and insightful questions. In addition, Dr. Pamela Walker’s on-going confidence in my ability to wrestle hundreds of pages of transcribed oral histories into something meaningful was encouraging when my own faith faltered. As usual at a university, the researcher has been nothing without the assistance of support staff. Linda White, Carleton’s former corporate archivist, made this work possible by not only giving me access to the university’s corporate files but also for being so thorough that I had a list of all the fonds, boxes and folders that I had consulted to iv refer to any time I needed it. When she left the university and was not replaced, we lost an invaluable resource. Who will be the next Blair Neatby or Don McEown? Barbara Steele in the University Secretariat has stepped in since Linda left and provided support while Patti Harper, the library’s archivist and her crew of Lloyd Keane and Al McClellan, have given me access to the old issues of The Carleton, This Week Times Two and advice on citing online archival documents— information which it turns out is hard to come by in this digital age. Joan White, the graduate administrator for Carleton’s Department of History, is a saint. No email or extension letter is too much trouble. My only regret is that I didn’t interview her for this research too because I know that she loved working with Evelyn Aldridge (“Mrs. A.”). Regina Aulinskas and Irene Sanna in the main office are always more than helpful—as students we are very lucky to have staff this devoted to working on our behalf. My colleagues Susan Tudin and Kristof Avramsson in Reference Services at the Carleton University Library were interested in this work—and would take the time to listen and throw out suggestions. This was especially nice at the times when, as a part-time student, I felt isolated and without a cohort to call my own. Finally, the staff in the Carleton University Library Access Services group were enormously helpful. Christine Taylor and Patricia Paquette of Interlibrary Loans ensured that I received all the materials I requested while Neil McFayden was v consistently patient as I renewed the over 100 books that I had signed out at one point. My friend Christina Turnbull has never stopped being enthusiastic about the writing process and has read numerous pages, most of which were not so coherent at the beginning. I needed her zen-like calm—and the coffee at Geronimo’s. My husband Ian Bufton and our sons Bruce and Sean have been steadfast in their understanding and willingness to listen to bits and pieces and proofread, even when what they’d rather be doing was playing basketball. Especially in the last week of writing when I was freaking at the Mount Everest-like stack of footnotes and bibliographic entries left to do, they continued to be supportive. As Bruce said, “They should give you an A for effort Mom—you sure do have a lot of paper there.” Ian is a proofreader extraordinaire—thank goodness! Love you lots. Finally, this thesis is dedicated to my parents, Harriet and Bruce Attridge and my aunt Elaine Empey. Over time, their family stories and loving constancy have kept me connected with my past. I just wish my parents were alive to read this work—I’d like to think they would have enjoyed it. vi Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………..vii List of Tables, Illustrations and Graphs ..................................................................................... ix List of Appendices .......................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Historiography ............................................................................................................................ 7 Explanatory Framework .......................................................................................................... 40 Research Method: Oral History ............................................................................................... 49 Sources and Outline ................................................................................................................. 59 Chapter 2 “Taking the plunge”: Professors Certify the Carleton University………………………….63 Academic Staff Association Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………...63 “They Were the University”: Creating a Community of Scholars (1942–1973)…………....65 The Seeds of Discontent: From Collaboration to Negotiation………………………………92 Going from Association to Union: “Michael Made Some Mistakes”…….………………..102 Conclusion and Epilogue…………………………………………………….……………...152 Chapter 3……..…………………………………………………………………….…………..158 A “Honey” of a Union Deal: The Labour Action of Carleton University Librarians Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….…158 Hilda Gifford and Early Recognition for Librarianship at Carleton (1948–1968)…….….161 Conversations About the Status of Librarianship……………………………………….….182 The Association of Professional Librarians of Carleton University joins CUASA…….….189 Overcoming the Resistance of Professors……………………………………………….…..202 Conclusion and Epilogue…………………………………………………………………....215 Chapter 4……………………………………………………………………………………….221 Not to be "Squeezed Out": The Carleton University Support Staff Union Certifies

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