A strike can be averted immediately if the administration drops the demand that would cut the take-home pay of TAs, both graduate and undergraduate. The administration refuses to discuss other matters at the bargaining table until the union agrees to this demand.

This is irresponsible on the part of the administration which has the duty to ensure that Carleton students receive the education they are paying for. It is also unfair to teaching assistants whose wages only account for 5.5 percent of the Carleton University budget. There is no reason for the administration to cut pay for TAs who already earn well below the poverty line.

No. The strike vote gauges the extent to which members support their bargaining team in opposing the proposed pay-cut. Strike votes are a standard part of bargaining at Carleton. Despite several strong strike mandates, Carleton TAs have never gone on strike. The union will only be in a legal strike position 17 days after a “no board” is filed by either side. This has not happened yet. Both sides are still bargaining.

If TAs vote “no”, their bargaining team’s position is undermined, allowing the administration to press with their demand, thus raising the stakes even more. Therefore, a “no” vote doesn’t guarantee a strike will be averted. It does, however, increase the likelihood that TAs will end up taking the pay cut, which is also unacceptable. A strong “yes” vote will provide the union more clout at the bargaining table to pressure the administration to drop its unreasonable demand.

The administration wants to change the contract to reduce TA take-home pay, exposing TA wages to increasing tuition fees. Currently, Carleton’s TAs pay full tuition up front and receive a rebate at the end of each term that covers the difference between today’s tuition fees and tuition fees in 2005. The university wants to change the “index year” from 2005 to the first year of each TAship. This is known as a “rolling index”. Given rising tuition fees, this will reduce the take-home pay of teaching assistants today, and all future teaching assistants at Carleton.

Sign the “Students united to prevent a TA strike” petition that is circulating around Carleton and also available at the GSA office on the sixth floor of the Unicentre.

Contact Carleton’s President Roseann Runte and request that the administration drop its demand in order to prevent a strike.

Tel: 613-520-3801

Fax: 613-520-4474

Email: presidents_office@carleton.ca

Get involved in the “Students United” campaign. Help us accurately inform students about the issues, and pressure the administration to avert a strike. To get more information or to get on the email list, contact students.united.2009@gmail.com