Originally Posted by Taunton

I think this is something that would need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Frankly in my 4 years here, I haven't had any issues with lab or tutorial size at all, and I'm not the only person in this boat.

It's obviously a problem in some places and not a problem in others. Instead of trying to make sweeping policy changes in this situation, it would make more sense to treat each individual case.

Well, I think the simplest solution would be to cap sizes according to room size/equipment available. That's mostly what I was saying. Having more students than computers is stupid.

We hope we won't be picketing at all, but if we do end up on strike, the tentative schedule for picket lines is M-F 7:30am-7:30pm. We released this information to our members at the information session last night, and will be making it public soon.

So I don't know what Fall Preview day is, but if its on Sat Oct 31, there won't be any picket lines delaying traffic. A small information picket (where we just hand our flyers and don't stop / delay anyone) is always a possibility though.

Originally Posted by dsahota

We hope we won't be picketing at all, but if we do end up on strike, the tentative schedule for picket lines is M-F 7:30am-7:30pm. We released this information to our members at the information session last night, and will be making it public soon.

So I don't know what Fall Preview day is, but if its on Sat Oct 31, there won't be any picket lines delaying traffic. A small information picket (where we just hand our flyers and don't stop / delay anyone) is always a possibility though.

Do you REALLY think people know the difference between a real picket and this so called "information" picket? All prospective students and their families will see is a union on strike (even if you are just "information" picketing).

Stop hiding behind technicalities.

So do we have a strike then?

Is it by tonight or tomorrow night they have in order to reach a deal?

Tonight at 12

Anybody gotten any emails from the faculty of science? I haven't and my profs haven't really said much about it.

I'm pretty sure they're waiting for the results of the strike to come out before releasing anything.

In a few classes, certain professors said they would or wouldn't be crossing the picket line.

Originally Posted by britb

Anybody gotten any emails from the faculty of science? I haven't and my profs haven't really said much about it.

No news anywhere... apparently the University has changed their offer a little bit, not offering any more funds, but reallocating what funds they're offering into benefits... that was an update at around 2pm though (and it was from CUPE, so take it for what it's worth).

I guess I'm going to wake up tomorrow and hear the news either way.

Lets keep our fingers crossed!

Originally Posted by Jay

I'm pretty sure they're waiting for the results of the strike to come out before releasing anything.

In a few classes, certain professors said they would or wouldn't be crossing the picket line.

Yeah one of my Profs said she won't be crossing the picket line. Someone in the class had to inform her that the University sent out an e-mail to students saying that classes would not be interrupted by the strike. She was all, oh, well, I'll have to check on that.

I'm pretty sure since the Professors are not on strike and in the event of a strike McMaster has said classes will go on as scheduled that Professors don't have a choice about whether or not they want to teach.

IMO its nice that they want to support the TAs and whatnot but I've paid tuition for this year and I will not be at all pleased if Professors decide they don't want to cross picket lines. Its unfair enough that TAs won't be teaching us but to have lectures disrupted for a strike that doesn't involve the Professors would be unacceptable.

Originally Posted by sew12

IMO its nice that they want to support the TAs and whatnot but I've paid tuition for this year and I will not be at all pleased if Professors decide they don't want to cross picket lines. Its unfair enough that TAs won't be teaching us but to have lectures disrupted for a strike that doesn't involve the Professors would be unacceptable.

Totally and 100% agree on this. IF I lose class time, I'd damn well better get my money back.

Originally Posted by britb

Anybody gotten any emails from the faculty of science? I haven't and my profs haven't really said much about it.

They've said that in the event of a strike there will be an announcement on ELM before Monday morning stating what actions will be taken. Lectures are continuing regardless, labs and tutorials might not be. If you have anything for Monday that requires preparation (ie a prelab), you should probably do it.

Originally Posted by Taunton

Totally and 100% agree on this. IF I lose class time, I'd damn well better get my money back.

During the York strike they were offered tuition credits and not refunds, which sucked for students who were graduating that year.

Hopefully it won't turn out that way.

We should know by shortly after midnight. CUPE is keeping a live update blog of bargaining and will likely say if they didn't get what they want. In the event they didn't, there will be a strike because there is no more bargaining scheduled.

Originally Posted by McIntyre

We should know by shortly after midnight. CUPE is keeping a live update blog of bargaining and will likely say if they didn't get what they want. In the event they didn't, there will be a strike because there is no more bargaining scheduled.

They haven't updated it since 2:16pm... not that they won't update if they reach an impasse, but it's not really live... or useful for that matter at this point in time.