Originally Posted by Stan

Instead have a group of people that act as a complain center that will take care of issues without resolving to a strike.

This exists... it's called the Ombudsman. It's supposed to be a neutral party to bring conflicts between the administration and other otherwise less powerful parties (students, workers, etc).

Originally Posted by Stan

If it was up to me, let them strike for however long they want. See how long they can go without pay before they realize that standing in a picket line doesn't feed their families. However, it is always the students that become the victim of these strikes. Hopefully both sides can agree on an acceptable proposal. Maybe its about time for education institutions to not have unions. Instead have a group of people that act as a complain center that will take care of issues without resolving to a strike. It seems that the CAW has not learn anything from GM and Chrystler nearly going bankrupt (if it wasn't for the tax payers bail out, which I strongly oppose). Anyways, lets hope there is no disruptions for the first years moving in this weekend. If there is, it will look absolutely negative in the eyes of first years and parents.

Don't they get paid by the union?

Originally Posted by jhan523

Don't they get paid by the union?

Strike pay is hardly anything to live on or support a family with... it's a joke really.

Do these people not have any common sense? Here we are sitting in a recession. Yes I know the economy has improved, BUT were nowhere near out of the hole yet. If they really wanted to make demands, and threaten a strike, why would you pick NOW to do it? It's like trying to squeeze juice out of a dry orange. Your not going to get much of anything.

That's not true, my cousin a recent grad was just hired by one of the major banks. When negotiating for her salary, she asked for a lot. She ended up getting what she asked for and more on top of that.

People are just afraid to ask for things in a recession, they should stop short changing themselves.

Originally Posted by Jay

That's not true, my cousin a recent grad was just hired by one of the major banks. She asked for a lot. She ended up getting what she asked for and more on top of that.

People are just afraid to ask for things in a recession, they should stop short changing themselves.

The problem there is that she's working for a bank. The banks can make money out of thin air (literally)... Also, the Canadian banks were hardly affected by the recession... an outlier if you will.

Originally Posted by Taunton

Strike pay is hardly anything to live on or support a family with... it's a joke really.

I think they get around $300 or so a week. I believe that's what I read on one of their union links from McMaster's news page.

I wonder how long they can last on $1200/month...

Originally Posted by Greco

I think they get around $300 or so a week. I believe that's what I read on one of their union links from McMaster's news page.

I wonder how long they can last on $1200/month...

Isn't that like minimum wage?

^ Less than minimum, assuming a 40 hour work week, it's $7.50.

Ben, I'm probably going to leave the argument re: banks printing money as is, as this is digressing; however, I'd just like to note that banks don't just print money out of "nowhere" without any sort of repercussions such as inflation.

Originally Posted by Jay

^ Less than minimum, assuming a 40 hour work week, it's $7.50.

Ben, I'm probably going to leave the argument re: banks printing money as is, as this is digressing; however, I'd just like to note that banks don't just print money out of "nowhere" without any sort of repercussions such as inflation.

Lol, that was a fail calculation on my part XD I still think that is decent.

Originally Posted by Jay

^ Less than minimum, assuming a 40 hour work week, it's $7.50.

Ben, I'm probably going to leave the argument re: banks printing money as is, as this is digressing; however, I'd just like to note that banks don't just print money out of "nowhere" without any sort of repercussions such as inflation.

It's a product of fractional-reserve banking. They end up "creating" money they don't have (because they assume they're getting loans back).

Originally Posted by jhan523

Lol, that was a fail calculation on my part XD I still think that is decent.

Just blame it on the fact that it's summer. : p

It's fine if you're a student. But, if you're supporting a family, it's definitely not enough.

I just hope there's a way for both parties (the union and the university) to compromise. I know they're against the new pension plan due to the uncertainties of the stock market. Perhaps they can use a larger portion of their salary to help fund the older system?

I'm not an economics student, and I don't have an interest in it, but there must be some other way of striking a deal.

Originally Posted by jhan523

Don't they get paid by the union?

My dad works for Bombardier and almost went on strike this summer. He would have went from making 100k a year to 200$/week. It's not sustainable.

So what does this mean for us, the students? Is the student accounts office and that going to be open? Or we left to fend for ourselves? I lost my student card last week :s I don't know how i'm going to get my osap and stuff without that :S

There will still be staff, it might just be a longer wait-time.

Originally Posted by Jay

Just blame it on the fact that it's summer. : p

It's fine if you're a student. But, if you're supporting a family, it's definitely not enough.

I just hope there's a way for both parties (the union and the university) to compromise. I know they're against the new pension plan due to the uncertainties of the stock market. Perhaps they can use a larger portion of their salary to help fund the older system?

I'm not an economics student, and I don't have an interest in it, but there must be some other way of striking a deal.

Oh right, I always forget that not everyone is a student. I keep on talking to my friends who are students so I'm in a very student-type environment >.< My bad.