Do the union’s executive and bargaining teams like strikes?
NO. Strikes are a last resort. But a strike vote is necessary in order to hold the line on our existing protections and secure better benefits in this round of bargaining. Unfortunately, Carleton administration always wants us to make concessions on key existing protections, and has only ever given us improvements with a successful strike vote. Tuition fee protection and priority appointments, for example, were all won only after successful strike votes In every case in CUPE 4600’s history, strike votes ended up winning a better contract without leading to actual strikes. Our sister TA Union at U of T, CUPE 3902, got a good deal last year with a strong strike vote. At York, after 3903’s vote, the Employer found extra money for health benefits, summer funding, and tuition indexation for graduate assistants. Our bargaining team and mobilization committee work as hard as they can to avoid going down the strike road. But, if the administration refuses to budge, they will leave us no choice
