Comments on: York Strike Karma

By: qibitum

qibitum — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:06:01 +0000

Thanks, Rob, for understanding my basic point. As I think I understand yours. I do know, for example, that TAs at my current employer were recently considering striking in order to gain free tuition as a benefit (which all other employees, both faculty & staff, receive). But they recognized that now was not a good time to strike, and backed down for the time being.

I also belong to a union, whether I like it or not, and I’m glad they’re there to represent my (hypothetical, at least) interests & negotiate on my behalf. Even when sometimes it doesn’t necessarily work out in my favor. (I lost my first academic job because my union, at that time, successfully negotiated new seniority rules for adjunct hires. Which meant I, as the new girl on the block, got locked out of that dept. Still, I could appreciate that victory for my colleagues & was happily able to find more work elsewhere. Still adjuncting though…)

Anyhow, personal perspectives aside, I think a strike is likely to be most effective when the public (& especially those most inconvenienced by said strike) is able to appreciate and sympathize with the cause. From your description, it sounds like that’s been lost in this case. A shame.

By: alshebil

alshebil — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:11:16 +0000

Hi Rob,
Though as Lee has pointed out I as well don’t know much about this strike except after your facebook mention, but I think I do understand your position on this and share your view that students become the victims at the end for something they have no control over whatsoever. I think the timing here cannot come as you said at a worst time with the world in a financial crisis it hasn’t seen in decades. In spite of all that I wonder if the other Universities in Toronto somewhat compare with what York is offering its staff, if that’s the case then it makes it more difficult to understand the strikers demands (even though I’m still quite ignorant of the details). In anycase I’m glad the students are back to school..I can imagine how that must have been.
hope this comes to a better ending..

By: Robert Kozinets

Robert Kozinets — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:03:37 +0000

Don’t know what’s wrong with my wordpress editor here…sorry for the added punctuation…

Quite right, Lee, and I’m glad someone finally said it. Makes me wonder if anyone is reading this thing at all.

I did say it’s a difficult situation. And I do realize that my situation is *now* privileged. However, I started out as an adjunct, then as junior faculty with no safety net, had to keep moving myself and my family to get positions. And I worked (and continue to work) my youknowhat off. In my own personal experience, I never got the benefit of a union. Maybe I’m just being a bit controversial here. But my privilege came with a big price tag, paid in full.

When you said *presumably* underpaid and exploited, to me that’s the key. The offer on the table is over 9% over three years guaranteed increases, and improved benefits (including dental care, vision care, $500 a year for chiro, $500 for naturopaths, $500 for massage, $500 for podiatrists, and wait, there’s more…plus remember we Canadians already get complete free health care). It really ain’t too bad. The university has been, I think, bargaining in good faith, and not taking advantage of a bad economic environment. I almost certainly won’t be getting 9 percent over the next three years.

In this case, it’s the union that is the problem, not the administation, in my opinion. Sometimes for sure it’s the administration–I don’t take sides automatically. This is a national union trying to make a point by making our school an example. And 50,000 students can’t be taught.

A specific case. Not a general rule. Some. probably many, adjuncts and contract academic workers have a raw deal.

Oh, in an interesting update, my school is going back to school. They received special permission to start teaching our undergrads again. So, amidst a striking school, the business school goes on, and the business school undergrads will complete their years and get their degrees.

Good news, for “us.” And this strike is all about “us” versus “them”….unfortunately.