Carleton University’s residence fellows will not be unionizing after a close vote Feb. 10, according to Marina Tronin, a former Carleton residence fellow.
She said the final vote was decided by a very narrow margin, with the side against unionization only winning by one vote in a 29-28 final tally. Four residence fellows did not vote.
Tronin, one of the three residence fellows who resigned in December 2013 after complaining of harassment, said she was not surprised by the result.
“I knew it was divided pretty evenly, so we’re not surprised, just disappointed,” she said.
If the vote passed, the res fellows would have unionized under the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 4600. The union currently represents contract instructors and teaching assistants on campus.
Tronin said she is upset because she thought unionization was the best way to get protection for workers, but said she is optimistic going forward.
“I think a pretty strong message has been sent that half the workers think [unionization] is a good idea, and hopefully, I think housing does something about it,” she said.
