OTTAWA – Teaching assistants at Carleton University have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action after conciliation talks failed to reach a settlement between Local 4600 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 1200 teaching assistants (TA’s) at the university, and Carleton management. The TA’s will be in a legal strike position at 12:01 a.m., November 21st.
“Our members have voted 75% in favour of strike action,” says Fred Schultz, CUPE 4600 president. “We’re fighting for manageable class sizes and protection from increases in tuition – issues that matter to every student and issues that affect the quality of education at our institution.”
“The university has dragged its feet in negotiations,” says John Gillies, CUPE National Representative. “They refuse to guarantee these workers adequate protection against rising tuitions – at this late stage that should already have been settled. This administration wants to treat TA’s like students with a special assignment instead of recognizing them as workers who help the university deliver quality education, and that has to change.”
“We care about the students and their future – that’s why we’ll do everything we can to avoid a strike, but only if we can reach a fair collective agreement,” says Schultz. “University negotiators must take contract talks more seriously and recognize that we are fully prepared to strike if necessary, and time is running out.”
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For further information, please contact:
Fred Schultz, President CUPE Local 4600
613-265-2096 - 613-520-7482
John Gillies, CUPE National Rep. Ottawa Area Office
613-237-0115
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications
416-292-3999
“Our members have voted 75% in favour of strike action,” says Fred Schultz, CUPE 4600 president. “We’re fighting for manageable class sizes and protection from increases in tuition – issues that matter to every student and issues that affect the quality of education at our institution.”
“The university has dragged its feet in negotiations,” says John Gillies, CUPE National Representative. “They refuse to guarantee these workers adequate protection against rising tuitions – at this late stage that should already have been settled. This administration wants to treat TA’s like students with a special assignment instead of recognizing them as workers who help the university deliver quality education, and that has to change.”
“We care about the students and their future – that’s why we’ll do everything we can to avoid a strike, but only if we can reach a fair collective agreement,” says Schultz. “University negotiators must take contract talks more seriously and recognize that we are fully prepared to strike if necessary, and time is running out.”
-30-
For further information, please contact:
Fred Schultz, President CUPE Local 4600
613-265-2096 - 613-520-7482
John Gillies, CUPE National Rep. Ottawa Area Office
613-237-0115
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications
416-292-3999