Contract instructors from Carleton, the University of Toronto, and York University have criticized their working conditions.
These non-tenured instructors have the support of local unions, teaching assistants, and many students. But universities seem unwilling to move on finding a solution to their grievances.
Contract instructor Andrew Robinson told the Charlatan that if he was a tenured professor, he would be making twice as much money for the work he is currently doing. He said more than one-third of classes at Carleton are taught by contract professors who are paid less, receive far fewer benefits, and don’t have the same job security as tenured professors.
It’s understandable that universities cannot pay everyone equally, but there has to be a fairer system.
According to Carleton’s CUPE 4600 office, contract instructors across Canada who are just as qualified as other professors are struggling to make a living wage and have to reapply for their jobs each year, making it a stressful and unstable profession.
It’s bad enough instructors are being treated like this at our school. The fact it’s being reported as a national problem just magnifies the need for a change. As contract instructors across Canada begin to stand up for their jobs, we need to recognize that the system is broken and there needs to be a change.
