Kalief Browder and the Eclipse of the Public Good

Ali Shehzad Zaidi — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Kafka in the Bronx

Ali Shehzad Zaidi — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Understanding Faculty Association Communication Strategies During Strike Action

Rachel K. Brickner, Andrew Biro, Joseph Hayes — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In 2021-22 there were an unprecedented six faculty association strikes across Canada. These strike actions took place during a period of crisis and transition in Canadian news industry. The consolidation of traditional media outlets meant that these venues were even less reliable for the extensive or effective coverage of the strikes, trends in post-secondary education, or faculty experiences as workers. Concurrently, the proliferation of social media platforms allowed faculty associations to reach audiences directly, bypassing the traditional news media. This paper presents results of our study of Canadian faculty associations’ communication strategies in this period of transformation in Canadian media structures. Based on interviews with members of the communications teams of faculty associations on strike in 2021-22, we identified three key issues that communications teams grappled with during their strikes: the “neutral” approach of the traditional media, a concern with maintaining professionalism and transparency, and the increasing need to use social media to reach important stakeholders. We conclude that although communicating with members remains the most critical task for faculty associations’ communications teams during negotiations and job action, it is a benefit to overall support to have robust external communications as well. In an ever-changing media environment, this means focusing on communications strategies well before beginning the bargaining process.

Workplace: A Journal for Academic Labor

Kalief Browder and the Eclipse of the Public Good

Kafka in the Bronx

Understanding Faculty Association Communication Strategies During Strike Action