All Posts Tagged With: "CUPE 3902"
University of Toronto tutorials are too big
What good is a lab or tutorial with 50 or 100 students in it?
Photo by Shane Global Language Centres
The union that represents teaching assistants at Canada’s biggest school, the University of Toronto, wants the public to know about the ballooning student-instructor ratios in the tutorials and labs they teach.
CUPE 3902, which represents 4,200 teaching assistants, graduate-student instructors, lab demonstrators, invigilators and writing instructors, voted 91 per cent in favour of striking on Nov. 30. A strike is still far off—2012 at the earliest.
The union may be using tutorial and lab numbers as a bargaining chip, but that doesn’t make the figures any less surprising—or concerning.
If the union is correct, 42 per cent of labs and tutorials at U of T now have more than 50 students, more than 100 sections have more than 100 students, and the proportion of tutorials and lectures that have 20 or fewer students has dropped from 40 per cent in 2006 to 23 per cent in 2011.
Continue reading University of Toronto tutorials are too big
Reviewing U of T’s campus closure
Hindsight very similar to foresight
When the University of Toronto announced it would be shutting down for the duration of the G20 there was a wide range of opinions on the subject. Student unions felt the campus should remain open. CUPE (representing university employees) supported openness as well, though with concern for the safety of its members. The faculty association was miffed about a lack of consultation and dialogue around the measure but stopped short of disagreeing with it. And the university issued a public statement that contributed, according to some, to the impression that protesters are inherently violent and that the threat to the campus is entirely one-sided.
The G20 is now officially over and life has resumed on campus. One can hardly say the protests have ended, as one of the largest yet is occurring this very moment outside police headquarters downtown, but the likelihood that this will directly impact U of T is much smaller now that the designated protest site is gone from Queens Park north. In fact this site didn’t stay designated very long, and police swept through it in the evening on Saturday, dispersing protesters throughout the campus and forcing them northwards. This seems a good time to review the university’s decision with the benefit of hindsight. But it doesn’t seem as though anyone’s opinions have changed.
U of T’s latest announcement on the subject combines discussion of arrests on campus (see below) with general statements such as this: “Unfortunately, G20 summits have been accompanied by violence in recent years.” In the nuanced world of media phrasing, it would be a huge difference to even say that G20 conferences tend to “inspire” violence, as this would at least leave the door open for interpretation as to who’s fault that happens to be. Adam Awad, speaking on behalf of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) representing undergraduates, says that “police actions over the weekend were heavy-handed and an affront to people’s rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.” This perspective includes the view, hardly unique to student groups, that a significant portion of the problem is caused by authorities rather than protesters.
Professor George Luste, President of the university faculty association (UTFA) concedes that “it really wasn’t viable or safe or prudent for the university to continue business as usual.” He points out, however, that the university’s decision was made hastily and without consultation outside the most senior levels of administration. As before, even if the university’s decision was necessary, more sensitivity around tone and approach, as well as details of implementation, might have gone some way to achieve greater consensus. This is the one thing just about every critic agrees upon.
Looking back on the summit, Awad offers the sort of assessment that has become common amongst groups opposed to the event. “No event warrants this level of police presence and officially-sanctioned brutality against civilians. It is a testament to the lack of integrity of the G20 summits that such a high level of security was required and that so many people were unjustly arrested.” He finds some unlikely support from Professor Luste, who is certainly expressing his individual opinion when he offers this view: “All of the riot police looked like Darth Vadars. Were I confronted with that it would have inflamed me. This sort of measure provokes a response even from people who are otherwise neutral.” He notes that intimidation tactics tend to encourage either submission or aggression in reply, leaving room for no middle ground.
CUPE 3902 was unfortunately not available for a follow up at this time, very likely still dealing with the consequences of the G20. The Graduate Students’ Union (GSU), meanwhile, has made their position abundantly clear through their actions, and theirs is a story still developing. What we know at this time is that the GSU opened their space, including a small pub and gymnasium, to temporarily host protesters coming to Toronto for the G20. On Saturday night that location was raided by police and a significant number of people were arrested. While its certainly clear the GSU stood by their resolution to keep the campus open and accessible for the G20, further details about the nature of the arrests and the reasons for them are not yet available. We’ll update as we can.
Campus under siege
Update: G20 protest turns violent
With G20 protests just ramping up in Toronto it’s worth remembering one thing. Whatever may happen on University of Toronto campus grounds, the university sure didn’t ask for this.
Update: G20 protest turns violent
Also see: On the front lines at the G20
Although it’s still uncertain just how much action to expect in and around the “designated” protest site at Queen’s Park North, what is certain is that the university isn’t taking any chances. The decision to essentially shut down the main campus for the duration of the G20 was swift and, for many stakeholders in the university, quite sudden. But then this sort of decision making has been a hallmark of the G20 from the start. With little warning the summit was suddenly in Toronto. Then the protest site was relocated from Trinity-Bellwoods Park (far from U of T) to the virtual centre of the university. And then the university announced it was closing shop. This will extend from the evening of June 23rd through the weekend, with the university resuming business as usual on Monday the 28th.
Two days of classes and numerous events on campus have been canceled. This period also includes summer exams, so some students will face difficult rescheduling while others may simply be glad for the extra time to cram. Those living in residence–an eclectic group of resident summer students, visitors from other institutions, guests and tourists–have been required to move out and either stay away for the duration or relocate to other housing provided for them. Graduate students have lost access to their laboratories and research facilities. Thousands of students have been affected, to varying degrees.
Dr. Cheryl Misak, Vice-President and Provost of U of T, describes this process as “a very complex and difficult set of decisions” forced on the university. When the residents around Trinity-Bellwoods complained about damage and disruption in their community, summit officials dropped the problem unceremoniously on the university, with buildings and facilities on three sides of the park and the provincial legislature to the south. If protesters end up spilling over in any direction they aren’t likely to overrun the legislature, so the alternative consequence is obvious. In anticipation of this, campus residences have moved their students elsewhere and every door that can be shut will be. But then universities aren’t well designed to go on lock down.
What the university should have done may be a moot point, now, but it presents an interesting problem to groups on campus who simultaneously sympathize with the goals of protesters but also have their own members to think of. Leslie Jermyn, Chair of CUPE local 3902 (representing university employees) defines the problem in terms of conflicting responsibilities. “I think there are motivations (for closure) that I can comprehend. On the other hand, I feel that the university is a public institution and as such has a greater responsibility to the public and to the community.” Meanwhile the University of Toronto Faculty Association, in debating the issue, was only able to arrive at a motion stating that the university should have consulted them first. Professor George Luste, President of UTFA, expresses concern for faculty research and dangers associated with it. “We have buildings with chemicals, radioactive material, animals, etc. I don’t think they could have kept it open with business as usual.”
Student groups, meanwhile, seem less restrained in their opinions and have gladly launched a No Campus Closure movement. They are simultaneously calling on the university to reverse its decision (not remotely possible now, if it ever was) and vowing to maintain their own operations as much as possible. They were also surprisingly hard to interview for this story. The Graduate Students’ Union referred only to their press release for information, while the University of Toronto Students’ Union, which represents undergraduates, missed three separate invitations to air their views. Presumably they are all too caught up in the event at this stage. But Jermyn, on behalf of CUPE, took up the challenge of offering a more nuanced view in dissent.
“The panic around where we’re going to locate the protesters suggests that the protesters are the problem. There are always people who want to do property damage, or want to make a statement that we may not agree with, but the bulk of people are there to make a peaceful statement and to stand in solidarity.” For Jermyn, it isn’t so much the university’s decision that is objectionable as the terms in which it is presented. “It feeds into the kinds of images that the mass media wants people to see–rioting and violence.” Unfortunate though it may be, coverage of the event thus far bears out this theory. And the expectation of violent confrontation only builds tension and makes it that much more likely.
Amid all of this cynicism around campus, and the expectation of violence, one small island within the university has defied the general trend and intends to remain open. Massey College is an independent graduate and professional residence on campus and therefore not beholden to the university’s orders. Though it has a reputation as a conservative institution it appears less concerned about the idea of unruly protesters than most. John Fraser, as resident Master of Massey College, promotes a more laissez faire approach.
U of T strike averted
CUPE 3902 and U of T have a tentative agreement
For those who have been following the possible strike situation at U of T, it seems that late last night (or very early this morning) the two sides came to some understanding. Like any such agreement it still needs to be ratified by the union membership. But in any typical bargaining situation once an agreement has the support of the bargaining team it’s pretty much a done deal. There’s no reason to imagine this situation is exceptional.
So CUPE 3902 maintains its very admirable record of avoiding strikes even when there is a mandate to have one. U of T surely deserves some credit here as well. As a rule, I’d suggest, it takes two reasonable bargaining efforts to avert a strike and only one unreasonable bargaining position to create one, so kudos to both sides. And I’ll admit I was wrong. Despite my gutcheck sense that this one might go all the way they pulled it out of the fire.
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Questions are welcome at jeff.rybak@utoronto.ca. Even the ones I don’t post will still receive answers, and where I do use them here I’ll remove identifying information.
CUPE 3902 ups the rhetoric
U of T sessionals still set to strike on Nov. 9
The union representing part-time instructors at U of T has just taken the next step in a complicated dance that may result in yet another major university work disruption. If you’d like to follow all the news as it develops, you can watch for updates at the official strike website. It currently bears the following message:
In direct messaging to instructors who may be on strike, the union has some immediate tips, such as clearing out one’s office and making alternative e-mail arrangements in the event that U of T shuts down accounts.
Additionally, if you’d like the university’s own updates on the strike, you can access those here.
We are so many steps into this dance that it’s hard to remember where it started, but at the time 3902 was quick to reassure members that voting for a strike is a strategic consideration and that the union has traditionally not taken a strike mandate as far as an actual work stoppage. It’s entirely true that a strike vote has rarely resulted in a real strike, and that a strong “yes” vote gives the union clout at the bargaining table. But something about the tone of things this time around just makes me feel it in my gut.
So far it’s too early to assign any blame, and if we get as far as an actual strike there will be blame all around. It isn’t my intention to go around pointing fingers. But as someone who does believe in the power and value of organized labour, I’ve got to say that something is fundamentally broken in the post-secondary sector. Rhetoric and posturing seems to have replaced any kind of functional and respectful relationship between employer and union. This is true across the board.
As I wrote in the aftermath of the York strike, labour actions in a post-secondary context must be understood as unique. This isn’t the same thing as garbage collectors or drivetest workers going on strike. There are crossover issues, certainly, but the massive pressures on the rapidly evolving post-secondary system create a special situation. This isn’t simply jockeying over how much of the pie employees will receive. The entire sector is changing, and locating a reasonable benchmark for compensation, benefits, and job security in this context may be all but impossible. In such an unsettled environment, labour strife is all but inevitable.
I wish I had cheerier thoughts. And I hope my sense of the situation is wrong and it resolves quickly and without disruption to classes. But I suspect otherwise. Whether in this instance or in others, there will continue to be nasty and bitter labour disputes in the post-secondary sector for some time to come.
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Questions are welcome at jeff.rybak@utoronto.ca. Even the ones I don’t post will still receive answers, and where I do use them here I’ll remove identifying information.
Union supports strike at UToronto if demands not met
TAs, student instructors and lab demonstrators vote 63 per cent in favour of a strike mandate
Teaching assistants, student instructors, lab demonstrators and invigilators at the University of Toronto have voted 63 per cent in favour of a strike if their contract demands are not met.
“None of our members want to strike, but they have clearly signaled that they are not prepared to accept a deal that ignores their core concerns,” says Rebecca Sanders, chief spokesperson for CUPE 3902 Unit 1.
Their previous contract expired at the end of April. Union representatives say this vote signals a strong strike mandate from their members.
“Despite the fear and anxiety generated by the economic crisis and the very difficult situation unfolding at York University, almost two-thirds of our members courageously indicated their willingness to back up their demands with labour action if necessary,” says Sanders.
Both sides say they will remain at the bargaining table and no strike date has been set.
It is hoped that a strike by members of CUPE 3902 will not result in cancelled classes or have the same disruptive consequences as the CUPE 3903 strike at York University.
UToronto CUPE set to announce strike vote results
Will be joined by CFS-O, students’ union, and Ontario NDP education critic
Breaking news: Union supports strike at UToronto if demands not met
Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3902, which represents teaching assistants, student instructors, lab demonstrators and invigilators at the University of Toronto, will be announcing results of their strike vote at a news conference tomorrow morning.
The news conference will be held at 10 a.m. on the University of Toronto campus. CUPE 3902 will also be joined by the Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario chairperson, the University of Toronto Students Union, and the Ontario New Democratic Party education critic in a show of solidarity for the union’s demands.
I will attend the news conference and will either liveblog or live-tweet the event. Check back here later tonight to find out which method I will use to quickly deliver the information.
Update: I will be twittering from the announcement on my Twitter page at www.twitter.com/JoeyColeman
