Originally Posted by reeves

Economics is not my strong suit, so can someone please explain to me how how changing the retirement package for new hires to a group RRSP, based on market performance, would cause the current employees guaranteed plan to collapse?

They say it could collapse because the guaranteed plan relies on current employees to pay into the system. If the new hires don't use the same plan and don't pay into it, then there's no money for the people retiring right now.

The way it should work is that the University would cover the difference until all the grandfathered pensions are completed (which would be a very fair compromize). I don't know if that would happen, but regardless I support the employer's right to offer whatever benefits it wants. As I've emphasized in other threads, it's each individual employee's responsibility to manage their retirement, not the employer. Don't keep all your eggs in one basket.

Originally Posted by jesus

I agree with Callen and Nicole.

There seems to be so much anti-union sentiment, mostly because a strike would "inconvenience" them. What a selfish attitude to have. We're only here for 4/5 years (+ any graduate school) and if the union should strike, it will only be for a small fraction of this time. These people are fighting for their pensions which have much longer implications.

Also, classes are still resuming it's clearly not like the York strike.

I think the only reason that there is so much negativity towards unions is because in the past they have been known to be aggressive in their actions and have disregarded any 3rd parties affected by their actions. I can totally understand what they are fighting for, but they have to remember that their jobs are there to help support us, the students, with issues from finances to course selection and accommodations for those with a disability of some sort.

So to strike over something that they personally will not be affected by is just selfish in this case. They are taking away many students are legally entitled to, and have been promised when they chose to come to McMaster. So as far as im concerned those who are against the strike are not blindly arguing, they just want what they are entitled to.

Could be wrong, but from what I've heard, this "pension" talk was stretched by the union. All existing employees WILL get their FULL pension. New employees will not - but they will know this when they are hired.

Originally Posted by HeatherH

Could be wrong, but from what I've heard, this "pension" talk was stretched by the union. All existing employees WILL get their FULL pension. New employees will not - but they will know this when they are hired.

New employees will be given a different type of benefit, which is not directly managed by funds contributed the employees and university. Instead, it will be investment based, which is not guaranteed.

The current pension benefit will be grandfathered for current employees, which is fair. The only hitch in this point is that, as callen has pointed out, it could collapse. If the university pays the difference however (or figures out some other way of completing these pensions) then there's no problem.

Originally Posted by Black.Mamba

damn...
I was just wondering if this would affect the ability to buy new books for classes. It says the bookstores would be affected by this strike, does this mean they wont be open during school?

The Bookstore will remain OPEN in the event of a strike.

In the event of a strike Titles will remain open and students will have access to all their books and courseware.

A couple of things you may want to note:

• August 29 is the last day for web orders.
• Make sure you check the Titles Website for any updates on hours of operation.
• STORE HOURS - Labour Day Weekend
  • Saturday & Sunday (Sept. 5 & 6)
    T-29 & Main Store OPEN (10am to 6pm)
    Tank CLOSED
  • Monday Sept. 7
    ALL STORES CLOSED for Labour Day
    
    Last day for web orders - Aug. 29

Would CSD still run if there was a strike?

Originally Posted by goodnews.inc

Would CSD still run if there was a strike?

Yes. All vital places on campus (like CSD, libraries and Titles) will be open, just slow.
Non-vital services (like Student Tours and Career Services) will be closed.

So the effect on students is quite small, when one takes into consideration that all essential services and classes will continue.

I don't see why we (students) are being negative towards this strike at all. Of course, it's not the greatest thing to be going on as soon as we start school, but the strike would not inhibit our university experience to any significant degree.

Originally Posted by HeatherH

Yes. All vital places on campus (like CSD, libraries and Titles) will be open, just slow.
Non-vital services (like Student Tours and Career Services) will be closed.

That's pretty rude to say Student Tours and Career Services isn't vital.

Originally Posted by Shmowen

So the effect on students is quite small, when one takes into consideration that all essential services and classes will continue.

I don't see why we (students) are being negative towards this strike at all. Of course, it's not the greatest thing to be going on as soon as we start school, but the strike would not inhibit our university experience to any significant degree.

Err... wait till you have to be at a class at 10am and then get caught up being held up by a picket line.

The effect on students is MASSIVE. First of all, our of the essential University services are crippled, including the Registrar's office, Financial Services, custodial staff (except MUSC), etc.

Secondly, there will be a picket line to cross and they can legally block your path for 5 minutes. Think about that for move-in. Plus, they probably will also set up picket lines outside essential buildings.

Look at Toronto, they picketed a private ambulance company and around 350 people had appointments for dialysis, cancer care etc pushed back because the hospitals could not arrange for proper transportation.

A strike is meant to inconvenience everyone in sight, and students HAVE to be inconvenienced for CAW to get their point across that the workers who are on strike are essential and deserve to have all their demands filled.

I was wondering with this strike if food services would be affected in any way?
I imagine the cafeterias and stuff will still remain open, right?

Originally Posted by deadpool

Err... wait till you have to be at a class at 10am and then get caught up being held up by a picket line.

The effect on students is MASSIVE. First of all, our of the essential University services are crippled, including the Registrar's office, Financial Services, custodial staff (except MUSC), etc.

Secondly, there will be a picket line to cross and they can legally block your path for 5 minutes. Think about that for move-in. Plus, they probably will also set up picket lines outside essential buildings.

Look at Toronto, they picketed a private ambulance company and around 350 people had appointments for dialysis, cancer care etc pushed back because the hospitals could not arrange for proper transportation.

A strike is meant to inconvenience everyone in sight, and students HAVE to be inconvenienced for CAW to get their point across that the workers who are on strike are essential and deserve to have all their demands filled.

....wow. I had absolutely no idea that the full ramifications of this strike were so significant. Thanks for your comment!

I suppose what I based my statement on was what the university said about the issue (which would then explain my understatement, for the opponent of the union would, one would think, "play down" the full effect of a strike on student well-being so as to diminish support for those on strike)


Question: you mentioned custodial staff as a service which would be crippled....would this include residence maintenance? If so, then that is definitely a MAJOR issue for students, considering communal washrooms and the like.

This is really going to suck for off-campus students taking the bus in, isn't it?

As if my 8:30 classes weren't bad enough...

Step 1: Buy a Hummer
Step 2: Drive through picket lines, don't slow down
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Get to class on time (and later go to jail but whatever)



......but seriously, it's going to be a pretty huge annoyance to have to deal with slowdowns with a variety of services. I can't believe the Union is actually striking for future employees; I wonder how many of them actually realize that they aren't striking for any of their OWN benefits.

The last time we had a strike, the buses stopped coming on campus in a show of solidarity.