Massive pickets at my uni!

Ben Kenobi · March 13, 2003, 19:45

I don't have a source, so you'll have to rely on my word. We have had a TA strike for the last two weeks at my university. For the last week, they have solidly picketed the building where all of my classes are held. What would you do in this situation? Would you cross the picket line, or not cross and support the TA's?

Please vote and discuss below.

ixnay · March 13, 2003, 19:55

If I had classes to go to there, I'd go to them.

General Ludd · March 13, 2003, 19:56

I wouldn't go even if there wasn't a picket line.

*End Is Forever* · March 13, 2003, 20:00

What's a TA?

ixnay · March 13, 2003, 20:01

Teaching Assisstant.

SlowwHand · March 13, 2003, 20:03

Whew!! I thought it was a *** and ass strike.

Paul Hanson · March 13, 2003, 20:04

Depends why they're striking.

Ben Kenobi · March 13, 2003, 20:11

Paul Hanson:

Tution has gone up 45% over the last year, and the TA's want a raise equivalent to the amount that the tuition has increased. The university has offered 10%, so the TA's have walked.

Also, two other unions walked off on Monday, joining the TA's. The total number off from work is approximately 5,000. The other unions have not had a contract since January.

Tuberski · March 13, 2003, 20:20

Quote:

Originally posted by obiwan18
Paul Hanson:

Tution has gone up 45% over the last year, and the TA's want a raise equivalent to the amount that the tuition has increased. The university has offered 10%, so the TA's have walked.

Also, two other unions walked off on Monday, joining the TA's. The total number off from work is approximately 5,000. The other unions have not had a contract since January.

45% increase in tuition? The students should be pissed!

But TA's want 45% too? **** 'em.

I'd be happy with a 10% yearly raise.

ACK!

Asher · March 13, 2003, 20:21

Quote:

Originally posted by obiwan18
Tution has gone up 45% over the last year

Alberta has legislation limiting tuition increases to 8% per year.

The reason your tuition went up so much so fast was because the retarded NDP thought the solution would be to put a tuition freeze on for a long time.

Ahhh, BC.

Ben Kenobi · March 13, 2003, 20:26

Asher:
I thank the NDP for the tuition freeze.

TA's have to pay tuition in order to work at my university. Even with 10% they are still out quite a bit of money.

Asher · March 13, 2003, 20:30

Tough ****, I say, look at the total costs of education. Everyone's tuition across Canada is skyrocketing recently.

Should I demand a raise at my job because tuition has increased?

Asher · March 13, 2003, 20:31

If I were you, I'd cross the picket line, smack them, and let them know you think they're morons for wasting your money.

Ben Kenobi · March 13, 2003, 20:35

Quote:

If I were you, I'd cross the picket line, smack them, and let them know you think they're morons for wasting your money.

Did I say I haven't? After all, I'm a conservative.

I'm just curious at what other people would do.

Fve Crathva · March 13, 2003, 21:13

I probably would. I don't know, though, our TAs here at UVic aren't making any sounds that I've heard. I might sneak into a picketed building out of sympathy instead. Not that they deserve sympathy, they're already making more than $20 per hour. I'm just a nice person.

SP

MRT144 · March 13, 2003, 21:19

not unlike the surgical strike of spam for 59 minutes one march afternoon. i get misty!

Really though, TAs do a lot of the boring ass work and should get every cent they do. i plan on being a TA BTW

Asher · March 13, 2003, 21:22

I think a TA's hourly wage should be dependant upon user feedback.

All of my TAs but one is totally useless. They always screw up marking, they can't explain anything, half the time they barely speak English.

If I had my way, most TAs would get maybe $10CDN/hour, while my really awesome TA would get ~$40CDN/hour. She's really worth it. The prof for that class is terrible, but she puts in lots of time and effort into explaining things and answering questions usefully.

Fve Crathva · March 13, 2003, 21:31

My mom got $14 per hour working in the public school system as a TA and SSA (special services assistant; way harder than TAing). I've never had a good TA. I don't mind the accents, but it's clear that they don't want to be there. One of them wasn't too bad, but he was kind of bland and was a fan of Richard Stallman (I dropped the course).

SP

notyoueither · March 13, 2003, 21:41

I think TA remuneration should definitely be linked to the cost of their own studies at the same institution. They are in a unique situation of being both a consumer and producer. What they get paid must be a reflection of their own costs of living and costs to study. That doesn't mean it has to match, though. Does it?

Be that as it may, of course you should cross the line. It would be absurd for any of the pickets to expect you to negatively effect your own education for any cause.

Asher · March 13, 2003, 21:54

I don't think the fact that the TA's are producers has anything to do with it.

Professors get piss-poor pay raises even though tuition rises much faster all the time, why should TA's be linked to the cost of tuition?

Seems very silly to me.

notyoueither · March 13, 2003, 22:00

Hint, they are working their way through graduate school. Does that help?

St Leo · March 13, 2003, 22:03

This is why universities need more regulation. Such tuition raises are absurd money-grabbing and the universities only do it because they know they can get away with it.

Asher · March 13, 2003, 22:07

Quote:

Originally posted by notyoueither
Hint, they are working their way through graduate school. Does that help?

No, because many profs are doing post-doc stuff, research, or other things.

If TAs can link their wages to their tuition costs, all students should be able to link their wages to tuition costs. Which is silly.

chequita guevara · March 13, 2003, 22:09

I've never crossed a picket and may I join Hoffa in the ground if I do. I'd rather be dead than be a god-damned scab.

Asher · March 13, 2003, 22:11

Scab...those things that are necessary for healing. Beneficial.

Tuberski · March 13, 2003, 22:11

Quote:

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
I've never crossed a picket and may I join Hoffa in the ground if I do. I'd rather be dead than be a god-damned scab.

How in hell is being a student being a scab? If they raised my tuition 45%, I'd cross any picket line that wants me to stop going to school.

Are they going to reimburse me? Hell no. I pay the tuition whether I go to school or not.

ACK!

Urban Ranger · March 13, 2003, 22:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Asher
Professors get piss-poor pay raises even though tuition rises much faster all the time, why should TA's be linked to the cost of tuition?

Seems very silly to me.

Because professors don't have to pay tuition?

RedFred · March 13, 2003, 22:45

The picket lines are now illegal so you should have no moral qualms about crossing.

The TAs position doesn't seem realistic to me. They are TAs. Most are students working on an advanced degree that are getting a decent amount of cash to assist their further education. This is not normally a long term employment opportunity.

I know of no group of TAs nationally that expect some kind of tuition break when it rises except for this group. These people probably got bad advice from some militant union leader.

Sprayber · March 13, 2003, 22:50

Quote:

Originally posted by RedFred
I know of no group of TAs nationally that expect some kind of tuition break when it rises except for this group. These people probably got bad advice from some militant union leader.

Probably from someone who isn't a TA

chequita guevara · March 13, 2003, 22:52

Why does everyone expect workers to be slaves?