Three of Carleton’s on-campus unions staged a two-hour information picket Feb. 5 to raise awareness about their current bargaining situations.
Marchers slowed traffic by moving in a circle at the entrance of the univeristy, then moving back to the roadside to allow cars and buses to pass by. Less than half an hour into the protest the left turning lane into the university was backed up several car lengths.
CUPE 4600 represents teaching assistants and contract instructors and OPSEU 404 represents Carleton safety staff. Both unions are currently negotiating new contracts with the university and had members present at the picket.
CUPE 4600 has been in conflict with the university over proposed changes on salaries and the use of student evaluations, according to a Jan. 14 bargaining update on their website.
The update said the contract instructors’ group is concerned with benefits, salary increases, representation in Carleton’s governance, and the use of teaching evaluations.
Under the TA bargaining update, a point of contention is tuition increase assistance. In the previous contract, tuition for TAs is frozen the year they begin work. Under the university’s new proposal, they would receive a lump sum rebate that would not be connected to rising tuition costs.
Grant MacNeil, Graduate Students’ Association president and member of CUPE 4600, was also there representing both unemployed and employed graduate students, many of whom work as TAs.
“I think it’s important for our members to get out and start mobilizing,” he said.
The union that represents faculty, the Carleton University Academic Staff Association (CUASA), was also out in support. Their negotiations with the university are likely to begin in a few weeks.
“I’m really concerned about the priorities of Carleton’s senior management,” said Rebecca Schein, a CUASA member and assistant professor who was at the picket line.
“Some of us are in negotiations, some of us are about to go into negotiations, and we want our contracts to be respected,” she said.
On Feb. 3, members of both CUPE 4600 bargaining units voted unanimously in favour of holding a “strike vote,” to be held Feb. 11-13.
Members of OPSEU 404 held their strike vote Feb. 5, authorizing their bargaining team with 97 per cent support to be able to call a strike.
A strike vote does not guarantee staff will choose to strike, but gives the union’s executive the option to call one if needed.
According to CUPE 4600 president James Meades, a strike vote is one way to show the university they need to prioritize the union’s concerns.
“We’re simply looking to get some recognition and some respect for the work we do for the university,” he said.
Threatening a strike vote has become a pattern in negotiations between the university and CUPE. In 2010, CUPE 4600 held an information picket and threatened to strike before settling.
Carleton sent an email Feb. 4 warning the community of delays that might be caused by picketing.
“We want to assure members of the Carleton community that we are doing everything possible to avoid a labour disruption,” the email said.
