In an effort to ramp up support and put pressure on the university, CUPE Local 3913 held a rally on Saturday ahead of its strike vote this week.
A strike mandate vote has already taken place. It doesn’t mean the union will strike but means the bargaining team can call a strike at any time.
CUPE Local 3913 is set to hold a strike vote on Tuesday with members from the University of Guelph.
The union is looking for livable wages, balanced work loads and more mental health support for its teaching assistants, graduate service assistants and sessional lecturers.
“A strike vote is a strike to vote but not necessarily a strike. It is essentially for pressure. We want to show that our members are ready to go if we don't get what we want or a reasonable and just settlement,” said Scott Duchesne, CUPE Local 3913 president, during his speech.
About 30 people came to rally at Branion Plaza at the university during the College Royal open house weekend.
People chanted “the workers, united, will never be defeated,” with signs in their hands.
“So unfortunately, we're just looking for real cost of living increases and what our members need to be able to have that balance of finishing their PhDs while teaching other courses within the university,” said Marie Cantwell, CUPE national representative, in an interview.
Mental health is linked to workload and workload is linked to wages, said Duchesne, in an interview.
Cantwell and Duchesne said it's not only about improving the lives of union members but also improves quality education for students.
Alexis Fabricius, is vice-president external of CUPE Local 3913, on the bargaining committee and is a U of G PhD. student. She sees things from these perspectives and said it's heartbreaking knowing graduate students and sessional instructors are struggling with their mental health.
U of G’s motto is “improve life” and the CUPE Local 3913’s slogan is “actually improve life,” said Fabircius.
Livable wages and more benefits to support mental health were the top issues graduate students at the rally talked about.
“It's very frustrating. We're supposed to be focusing on our studies and making scientific breakthroughs,” said Rus Green Johnson, physics masters student. Most of his and other graduate students' energy is going to budgeting and trying to make ends meet.
Victoria Arbour, also a physics masters student, doesn’t know any union members who have used the food bank on campus. Some members have resorted to using the union’s emergency fund.
She knows someone who used the emergency $500 for car repairs after their car was broken into. The fund can be used for unexpected expenses members run into.
As a teaching assistant she said she likes her job but it’s unfortunate she doesn’t get paid for the extra hours she puts in.
“We are a very vibrant community. And we want to show that vibrancy to the university again,” said Fabricius. She thinks livable wages and other improvements can help.
