CUASA COMMUNIQUE Volume 29, No. 4 Editor: Bob Rupert February 1999 Sessional and TAs may strike by Bob Rupert, Editor A strike by one or both CUPE 4600 bargaining units now appears probable. Your council of representatives met last Friday with CUPE spokesmen Gareth Park and Bill Skidmore. Both said their executive committees have recommended rejection of the employer's latest offers when members vote on those offers this week. For teaching assistants, the major issue is contractual protection against tuition increases i.e. if tuition goes up--their retainer goes up accordingly. The TAs say their last increase has all but been absorbed by subsequent tuition hikes. They fear that future increases might be equally fleeting--given one day in bargaining and taken away the next in increased fees. For sessional lecturers, the main issue is money. They now get $7,000 to teach a full-credit course. While the employer has offered increases of $210 and $216 per course in each year of a two-year agreement, that reimbursement is still clearly inadequate considering the time, preparation and teaching skills these people commit to their students. There simply is no question that Carleton University has become so dependent on these part-time instructors that it would be impossible to continue without them. The only alternative would be to replace them with full-time faculty: a costly 180-degree reversal of Carleton University practice in recent years. The sessional lecturers are not proposing part-time pay pro-rated to full-time instructors they do feel that the employer's current offer would perpetuate their longstanding exploitation and they appear to be very determined to get fairer compensation. We are invited to join CUPE 4600 picket lines (the first information picket line will be mounted this Friday at 7 a.m.) and we encourage you to do so. Whether you choose to do so or to express your support in other ways, it should be clear that UNDER ONTARIO LAW CUASA MEMBERS, INCLUDING CHAIRS, CANNOT BE REQUIRED TO DO STRIKERS' WORK OR TO ASK COLLEAGUES TO DO THE WORK. What you do when you approach the picket line is your decision based on your principles. In our last newsletter we published CUASA's policy regarding strikes and picket lines by other bargaining units. Whatever you decide, CUASA will come to your defence in the event of employer reprisals. CUPE 4600 has also pledged that it will protect all of its strike supporters in any tentative strike settlement. If safety is a concern, be prudent. Emotions can run high on picket lines because people have a lot at stake. If you feel unsafe, you are not required to cross the line without adequate security. CUASA is committed to support CUPE 4600 in the event of a strike. We will consider our level of financial support when CUPE 4600's sister locals at Carleton have identified their level of support. Support may take different forms with individual CUASA members, but at a minimum WE RECOMMEND THAT NO CUASA MEMBER DO THE WORK OF A STRIKER. Not too long ago, we were in a similar position--ready to withdraw our services if an honourable settlement could not be reached. CUPE 4600 supported us. Now it's our turn.