With less than four days to go until a potential CUPE 4600 strike, here’s what you need to know.
Carleton University has posted a course status table on its website, showing which classes would proceed and which classes would be disrupted in the event of a strike. About 28 per cent of classes—774 out of a total of 2774— would be disrupted, an analysis of the data by the Charlatan has found.
The number does not include tutorials or labs, which are primarily run by unionized teaching assistants. The data does not include the number of students in disrupted classes.
Information about labs and tutorials will be communicated to students by individual instructors or departments, according to an emailed update sent out to students Thursday.
OC Transpo expected to stop service to campus, classes may move online
OC Transpo buses will not be crossing the picket line onto campus in the event of a CUPE 4600 strike, according to an email sent Wednesday evening from Carleton provost and vice-president (academic) Jerry Tomberlin to university employees, which the Charlatan obtained a copy of. The Charlatan has also obtained copies of emails from the department of law and legal studies to students confirming this.
Troy Charter, OC Transpo’s director of operations, said in a statement to the Charlatan that OC Transpo will advise customers of any changes in services or stop locations on its communication channels if there were any impacts on service to Carleton.
Tomberlin said non-striking course instructors may move classes online “in consideration of the safety and wellbeing of students and staff,” as a result.
An email was sent to students earlier Wednesday with an update on the bargaining process, but it did not include any information on how a strike could affect students, including bus service changes or the potential for classes to move online.
“In the event that agreements are not reached in time, the university is taking steps to prepare for a possible labour disruption,” the email read. “Should a strike be declared, further updates will be provided regarding courses, exams and other campus activities.”
@Carleton_U gave another "update" today on bargaining with a lot of words but little meaningful content. As hundreds continue to sign up for picket shifts, strike pay, and we continue to receive thousands of dollars in pledges, we are increasingly ready if time runs out.
— CUPE 4600 (@cupe4600) March 22, 2023
Senate policy on academic accommodations during labour disputes says that in the event of a strike, the university would remain open and classes would run normally unless communicated otherwise to students by individual course instructors.
If the strike lasts 11 or more calendar days, the university must look into a term extension and has the option not to grant credits. The university has not commented on what would happen to students expecting to graduate.
The two sides were in conciliation for 13 hours on Tuesday and at least nine on Wednesday, according to CUPE 4600 president Noreen Anne Cauley-Le Fevre. While the last scheduled meeting is Friday, Cauley-Le Fevre said she expects both sides to meet over the weekend as well.
The union posted to its Instagram on Wednesday promoting a rally and picket Monday, the day it would be in an official strike position.
The university did not respond to detailed questions on the matter in time for publication, but said it was committed to a “successful” end of term for students in its latest update.
Union files grievances, accuses university of infringing on rights
CUPE 4600 also filed union grievances against Carleton on behalf of the union’s two bargaining units on Wednesday.
The grievances were filed in response to another email circulated to university employees on March 17 from Tomberlin, directing contract instructors to upload electronic copies of final exams or term assignments and teaching assistants to return grades and any other assignments or course materials by March 23.
“This deadline is not in line with standard practice and establishes an increased workload and accelerated timeline above and beyond the normal provisions and protections afforded to members,” Cauley-Le Fevre said in an email to members.
A course supervisor can’t unilaterally update/change a TA’s assigned duties, i.e. they can’t add new deadlines for submitting grades unless both parties agree. A TA's responsibilities are outlined in their AODs, which are signed and agreed upon mutually at the start of the term.
— CUPE 4600 (@cupe4600) March 22, 2023
The union is alleging Tomberlin’s requests violate members’ rights on working hours, marking deadlines, academic freedom and reasonable duties, as outlined in the two units’ collective agreements.
“Members are not required to perform extra work or rush to meet arbitrary deadlines set by the University at a generally busy time of year as they brace for a potential work stoppage,” Cauley-Le Fevre said in the email. “There is no obligation for members of either bargaining unit to increase the amount and/or intensity of work performed prior to the legal strike deadline.”
This is a developing story. Updates to come as they become available.
This story was last updated on March 23 to include a statement from the City of Ottawa and information on the university’s course status table.
Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.
