Local labour council backs faculty in vote of no confidence against Algoma U president

Algoma University faculty have gained broader union support in Sault Ste. Marie, with the local Labour Council calling on the university to respect a vote of no confidence made against leadership at Algoma U.

The Sault Ste Marie District Labour Council issued a news release on Thursday condemning Algoma Univerity's Board of Governors for ignoring a request by the faculty association to present the results of its vote of no confidence against the university's president, Asima Vezina.

That vote came after what the association says was months of effort to raise concerns about the university’s pursuit of unsustainable growth at the expense of quality education and student experience.

"The strong show of opposition to the administration’s direction was made public on June 20th, after the Board of Governors refused to address the vote at its monthly meeting," said Labour Council president Tara Maszczakiewicz in the release. 

The vote was held on June 7 by the Algoma University Faculty Association members during a meeting of full-time faculty. The results of the vote were shared with media on June 20 in a move the association admitted was a "drastic measure." That association is represented by OPSEU Local 685.

The association, which represents 73 full-time faculty at the university, accuses Vezina of prioritizing profit-making over the interest of students through the rapid, unmanageable growth of international student enrolment, causing damage to the university's reputation.

Immediately prior to that meeting, outgoing chair Mike Moraca spoke on behalf of the Board of Governors when he said it is in full support of Vezina's leadership. The vote of no confidence was not mentioned during the board meeting and Vezina declined an opportunity to speak to media about it after the open portion of the meeting.

Moraca further alleged the Canadian Association of University Teachers has been encouraging non-confidence votes against university presidents and administrators at institutions across the country.

The Labour Council president said that claim is not true.

"These comments reflect a Board that is out of touch with the reality in the institution it purports to govern and a cynical ploy to deflect attention from its mismanagement by denigrating organized labour," said Maszczakiewicz.

She said the Labour Council "condemns the ignorant comments of Algoma University’s outgoing Board of Governors Chair, and their anti-labour undertones."

The Labour Council is asking the Board of Governors to respect the faculty vote and to deal in good faith with the issues that provoked the vote, including the university’s "unmanageable growth model and its unilateral approach to decision making."

SooToday has reached out to Algoma University for comment and will add to this story if a response is received.