Originally Posted by A.Marlowe

In terms of scabbing, I'm pretty sure you can assume that those are the people who would not be a part of CUPE if they had a choice. Think of them as non members who donate $30 a month to support your cause if it makes you feel better about it. If most of your members turn into scabs, I'm guessing that your union is not wanted nor needed by the people who are in it.

Just to note its not that a union isn't needed by the TAs (it may or may not be) its just that CUPE isn't necessarily wanted or needed by them because they obviously don't serve the needs or interests of their membership.

I'm not anti-union, I just wouldn't want to be forced into a union that I don't feel cares about what myself and my collegues actually want.

A lot of people seem to be mis-reading anti-CUPE posts as anti-union rhetoric and this isn't necessarily the case.

Not all unions are bad but clearly not every union is good and truly serves the desires of its membership.

Let our TAs vote and have their voice heard CUPE.

Originally Posted by kleung

Look at it this way...

Picketers get strike pay AND back pay when the strike ends. At York, after 3 months of striking, the picketers got 90% of their back pay when the back-to-work protocols were negotiated.

People who exercise their right to work (scabs), only get their regular paycheque.

Basically for every week on strike, the picketers will be up $200.

The $200 dollars is based upon 20 hours of picketing. We only work 10 hours a week as TAs. For someone like myself, with research and academic (classes) commitments, it is just not feasible for myself to find 20 hours a week to picket.

The local is going to be (as far as I know) kind enough to pay us in blocks of 4 hours at $10 dollars an hour if we choose to picket. It would be feasible for someone in my position to picket, say, 8 or 12 hours a week. Unfortunately, the local is only taking care of the strike pay for the first little bit (I want to say first two weeks, but don't quote me on this). After that point in time, CUPE national kicks in and starts paying our strike pay. They, however, require us to picket 20 hours a week to get strike pay, no less. That is a CUPE national regulation (and our local is fighting to have that changed for us).

So, if I want the $200 dollars a week, I would have to severely compromise both my research and academic commitments. In a sense, I would have to go above and beyond what my duties are currently as a TA.

I do not know if I would list this under "advantages to striking" or not.

Originally Posted by talues

The $200 dollars is based upon 20 hours of picketing. We only work 10 hours a week as TAs. For someone like myself, with research and academic (classes) commitments, it is just not feasible for myself to find 20 hours a week to picket.

The local is going to be (as far as I know) kind enough to pay us in blocks of 4 hours at $10 dollars an hour if we choose to picket. It would be feasible for someone in my position to picket, say, 8 or 12 hours a week. Unfortunately, the local is only taking care of the strike pay for the first little bit (I want to say first two weeks, but don't quote me on this). After that point in time, CUPE national kicks in and starts paying our strike pay. They, however, require us to picket 20 hours a week to get strike pay, no less. That is a CUPE national regulation (and our local is fighting to have that changed for us).

So, if I want the $200 dollars a week, I would have to severely compromise both my research and academic commitments. In a sense, I would have to go above and beyond what my duties are currently as a TA.

I do not know if I would list this under "advantages to striking" or not.

That's a fair point - we all have our own commitments and I would agree that putting in 20 hours a week on the picket lines is probably not in the best interests of anyone with research or a thesis to write.

With that being said, I don't think there's any action that we can take that doesn't result in putting us or someone else in a losing situation. The strike is bad for everyone.

So an undergrad TA makes about $220 and grad TAs make $380 a week, that's not bad at all. I make $120 in TWO weeks, but I love my job and I would pretty much do it for free! This strike is so selfish, I feel bad for those who actually love teaching other students and don't wanna waste time on the picket line. Today unions just sit on their butts and make decisions and then when it doesn't go their way they strike.
The amount of people who have been laid off because of the recession is insane, and most of those people have families. Unions should be fighting to help get their jobs back, not increasing the pay for TAs, who already make more than enough. Unions have really outlived their purpose.

Originally Posted by sew12

Just to note its not that a union isn't needed by the TAs (it may or may not be) its just that CUPE isn't necessarily wanted or needed by them because they obviously don't serve the needs or interests of their membership.

I'm not anti-union, I just wouldn't want to be forced into a union that I don't feel cares about what myself and my collegues actually want.

A lot of people seem to be mis-reading anti-CUPE posts as anti-union rhetoric and this isn't necessarily the case.

Not all unions are bad but clearly not every union is good and truly serves the desires of its membership.

Let our TAs vote and have their voice heard CUPE.

Sorry, I should have clarified. By "your union" I meant CUPE. If the TAs want to switch out to be under a difference union, they should definitely have that right. Aside from the CAW though I don't know what options they would have... and they aren't much better. Maybe a McMaster TA specific one?

But yeah, they should have the freedom to join a better union, or to be able to go without a union if they think that serves them best.

Originally Posted by InYoutoGive

From the Union list of demands:

5.08 The Employer will pay to the Union $13,000 on September 1, 2009 and $14,000 on September 1, 2010. This money will be distributed by the Union among elected Local representatives in recognition of their union work.

........ That's essentially a ransom of $27 000 that will be distributed among the upper echelons of CUPE 3906. Solidarity, indeed. That's twenty-seven thousand dollars.

So, students of McMaster, how do you feel about this? That amount of money could potentially pay for the full tuition of one degree. It seems the Union wants a pat on the back for failing to represent its membership and holding the education of 20 000 people hostage. How ridiculous is this?

How many people would that $27,000 be split among?

So basically they were threatening to strike if they didn't get a hefty bonus? (among other things, I know, but is that bonus necessary..)

Originally Posted by jo87

So an undergrad TA makes about $220 and grad TAs make $380 a week, that's not bad at all. I make $120 in TWO weeks, but I love my job and I would pretty much do it for free! This strike is so selfish, I feel bad for those who actually love teaching other students and don't wanna waste time on the picket line. Today unions just sit on their butts and make decisions and then when it doesn't go their way they strike.
The amount of people who have been laid off because of the recession is insane, and most of those people have families. Unions should be fighting to help get their jobs back, not increasing the pay for TAs, who already make more than enough. Unions have really outlived their purpose.

I agree. It's sad when someone who has the same education as me (or less education) makes more than me in one week of picketing than I do in 2 weeks of working my ass off.

Originally Posted by A.Marlowe

But yeah, they should have the freedom to join a better union, or to be able to go without a union if they think that serves them best.

At the very least they should be allowed to vote on all the issues. Union reps are obviously necessary to bargin with the University and to negotiate the deal but once a final deal has been offerred it should be up to the TAs whether or not they feel this deal is acceptable to them. Representation can only go so far, when it comes to actually accepting or rejecting a final offer reps cannot and should not be allowed to speak for their membership. If a union claims to be fighting for what their membership wants and needs it should be up to the membership to actually decide if the deal offerred meets their needs and wnats. Not allowing them to vote and have a voice goes against their desires and does not fight for what they want.

Votes should be an absolute, not at the union's discretion.

Originally Posted by Kathy2

How many people would that $27,000 be split among?

So basically they were threatening to strike if they didn't get a hefty bonus? (among other things, I know, but is that bonus necessary..)

In the earlier stages of bargaining, that clause actually read $40,000 for one year.

I asked Derek about it on this forum about a week or two ago, and he claimed it was for "hotel & bargaining expenses".

http://www.macinsiders.com/showthrea...2430 9&page=5

Originally Posted by kleung

In the earlier stages of bargaining, that clause actually read $40,000 for one year.

I asked Derek about it on this forum about a week or two ago, and he claimed it was for "hotel & bargaining expenses".

http://www.macinsiders.com/showthrea...2430 9&page=5

Soo.. they planned on staying at The Hilton?

Even $27,000 is an insane amount for hotel and bargaining expenses, unless there were like 500 people at the bargaining table.

If it was for that, it would say 'for hotel and bargaining expenses'. Besides, that should be written off as a cost to CUPE national as a cost of 'doing business'.

'As recognition for their union work' means 'here's a pat on the back, guys'.

Originally Posted by InYoutoGive

If it was for that, it would say 'for hotel and bargaining expenses'. Besides, that should be written off as a cost to CUPE national as a cost of 'doing business'.

'As recognition for their union work' means 'here's a pat on the back, guys'.

So it's a $27,000 bonus.

I'm really curious how many people this bonus is going to.

Originally Posted by Kathy2

Soo.. they planned on staying at The Hilton?

Even $27,000 is an insane amount for hotel and bargaining expenses, unless there were like 500 people at the bargaining table.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

By law, the union is required to furnish a copy of their audited financial statements to any member requesting them. It would be interesting to see where the money goes.

http://www.cupe3906.org/index.php?op... 61&Itemid=164

That's the CUPE 3906 executive. That's all I got. I'm assuming some/all of them are 'elected representatives'.

You guys are bitching about 27k, spread amongst more than one person?

Our president at McMaster has decided not to take a pay increase this year(the first time in years!) and will be sitting pretty at just over 500k! Oh and let's forget the retirement package he got! Wasn't it half a million? I'm pretty sure it was more.

Yet his name is plastered all over the CUPE negotiations. He sure worked really hard, what with the snail's pace and all.

What a shame.

EDIT! Here it is http://www.thespec.com/article/393529