The union representing Carleton contract instructors and teaching assistants held a strike vote Oct. 25-28 to seek a strike mandate for its bargaining team because the administration has shown “little interest” in resolving issues, according to their negotiation update issued Oct. 20.
The bargaining team of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4600 has met with administration four times on behalf of contract instructors, and on Sept. 24 had a brief meeting with the administration on the behalf of teaching assistants, according to the update.
The employer’s unwillingness to bargain has forced CUPE 4600 to file for conciliation in both cases, according to the update.
According to the update, the administration insists on reducing job security for contract instructors, and refuses to “discuss compensation for required duties that are currently unpaid, such as proctoring or marking deferred exams and papers.”
Additionally, the administration continues to “demand a two-year wage freeze” for members. The update notes that contract instructors are “already paid 14 per cent less than their equivalents at the University of Ottawa.”
The bargaining unit is discussing issues including tuition increase assistance, and cost of living adjustments. It is predicted that tuition will increase 4.5 percentage points each year for the next two years, the update says.
This tuition provision would decrease take-home pay, according to Sebastian Cray, a political science teaching assistant who is also completing his master’s degree in European studies.
Wage freezes mean pay would eventually only cover tuition, and would make it difficult to pay for living expenses.
Cray said he and his colleagues hope to avoid a strike but will do so if it is necessary.
Daniel Webb, a contract instructor for political science, said “the biggest issue is that administration does not want to recognize contract instructors as necessary and valuable contributions to the university.”
“They want to hold on to the notion that contract instructors are only here for a short term before they go and get a ‘real job.’ The reality is that many contract instructors see their job at Carleton as a career.”
CUPE 4600 president James Meades said the issues being negotiated also pertain to class sizes.
They want to limit the ratio of undergraduates to teaching assistants so that tutorials can “be more interactive.”
Though CUPE 4600 is aiming for a high strike mandate this does not necessarily mean a strike.
“We’d like to develop the fairest contract to ensure that teaching assistants and contract instructors are given the best possible working conditions,” Meades said.