WUFA secures 96 per cent strike mandate
By Hannah Larking
News Editor
September 10, 2008
On September 4, WUFA released the results of their week-long poll for a strike mandate showing a 96 per cent majority in favour. According to the press release, the vote came as a last result when negotiations in August faltered.
“A strong mandate is the best way to secure a fair, equitable collective agreement, an agreement that includes sector parity in wages and benefits, an agreement that embodies robust principles with respect to employment equity, and an agreement that preserves the quality of education at the University of Windsor,” The Windsor University Faculty Association (WUFA) argued in its statement. The poll took place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3.
According to Brian E. Brown, WUFA president, the university administration’s reluctance to take WUFA’s contract proposals seriously, or approve sector parity in benefits in working conditions indicates that they are willing to sacrifice educational quality at the University of Windsor.
“A strong mandate ensures that the administration must take us seriously at the table. Our members overwhelmingly support our negotiating team,” Brown said.
In the last few months, WUFA has gained the support of both the Graduate Student Society (GSS) and the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA). “Too much is at risk at this institution,” Brown said. “Students and faculty have united to preserve quality education at the University of Windsor.”
“Frankly, the students want to see this issue resolved,” said UWSA president Tiffany Gooch. “We think it’s unfair for us to be caught in the middle of this situation, but we want to see both sides come back to the table and reach a fair agreement. We want what is best for students—quality education at the University of Windsor.”
“We support the efforts to secure fair rights and working conditions for the backbone of this institution, which is the faculty, library staff and sessionals, but ultimately no one wants to see a strike. We’ve encouraged both parties to make a concerted effort to reach an agreement before such action is necessary,” Gooch added.
Gooch explained that the UWSA is often caught in situations like this, because they are a multi-purpose organization. We represent, advocate and provide services for students, Gooch said. “What makes that difficult as a task is that in all three of these situations we’re dealing with the university. As representatives, we have to make sure we’re voicing exactly what students need and want. As advocates, we have to lobby for the university to take action on issues that we need, and we’re partners, when it comes to providing the services that students need. I think they understand that our hats need to change,” Gooch said.
The UWSA recently became business partners with the university when they accepted a plan for the pub that affiliates them with the University of Windsor’s food services. In the negotiations, the question of increasing tuition costs was addressed. “[WUFA’s answer] was that tuition has gone up every year, regardless of this going on. They’ve always raised it to the highest percentage they could,” Gooch said. “I will still be lobbying for no tuition increase.”
Should a strike occur, Gooch said council will have to reconvene. “Discussions never reached the point of what will happen in the case of a strike.”
In terms of what exactly is being supported based on WUFA’s presentation to the UWSA, Gooch said there really is no argument. “The issues are all confidential. We can’t know exactly what’s being negotiated and that’s what makes this really difficult for us, because we don’t know exactly what’s happening in that negotiating room.”
The exact wording that was used in the UWSA support vote read as follows: “Be it resolved, that the UWSA supports WUFA’s efforts to sustain the quality of our education at the University of Windsor and to secure better rights and working conditions for faculty, library staff and sessionals.”
The UWSA’s majority was in favour, but it was a close vote, Gooch said.
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