14-03-2003 04:45									#1
	Massive pickets at my uni! Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

I don't have a source, so you'll have to rely on my word. We have had a TA strike for the last two weeks at my university. For the last week, they have solidly picketed the building where all of my classes are held. What would you do in this situation? Would you cross the picket line, or not cross and support the TA's?

Please vote and discuss below.

	14-03-2003 04:55									#2
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If I had classes to go to there, I'd go to them.

	14-03-2003 04:56									#3
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I wouldn't go even if there wasn't a picket line.

	14-03-2003 05:00									#4
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What's a TA?

	14-03-2003 05:01									#5
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Teaching Assisstant.

	14-03-2003 05:03									#6
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Whew!! I thought it was a *** and ass strike.

	14-03-2003 05:04									#7
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Depends why they're striking.

	14-03-2003 05:11									#8
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Paul Hanson:

Tution has gone up 45% over the last year, and the TA's want a raise equivalent to the amount that the tuition has increased. The university has offered 10%, so the TA's have walked.

Also, two other unions walked off on Monday, joining the TA's. The total number off from work is approximately 5,000. The other unions have not had a contract since January.

	14-03-2003 05:20									#9
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quote: Originally posted by obiwan18 Paul Hanson: Tution has gone up 45% over the last year, and the TA's want a raise equivalent to the amount that the tuition has increased. The university has offered 10%, so the TA's have walked. Also, two other unions walked off on Monday, joining the TA's. The total number off from work is approximately 5,000. The other unions have not had a contract since January.

45% increase in tuition? The students should be pissed!

But TA's want 45% too? **** 'em.

I'd be happy with a 10% yearly raise.

ACK!

	14-03-2003 05:21									#10
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quote: Originally posted by obiwan18 Tution has gone up 45% over the last year

Alberta has legislation limiting tuition increases to 8% per year.

The reason your tuition went up so much so fast was because the retarded NDP thought the solution would be to put a tuition freeze on for a long time.

Ahhh, BC.

	14-03-2003 05:26									#11
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Asher:
I thank the NDP for the tuition freeze.

TA's have to pay tuition in order to work at my university. Even with 10% they are still out quite a bit of money.

	14-03-2003 05:30									#12
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Tough ****, I say, look at the total costs of education. Everyone's tuition across Canada is skyrocketing recently.

Should I demand a raise at my job because tuition has increased?

	14-03-2003 05:31									#13
	Got spare money?

If I were you, I'd cross the picket line, smack them, and let them know you think they're morons for wasting your money.

	14-03-2003 05:35									#14
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quote: If I were you, I'd cross the picket line, smack them, and let them know you think they're morons for wasting your money.

Did I say I haven't? After all, I'm a conservative.

I'm just curious at what other people would do.

	14-03-2003 06:13									#15
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I probably would. I don't know, though, our TAs here at UVic aren't making any sounds that I've heard. I might sneak into a picketed building out of sympathy instead. Not that they deserve sympathy, they're already making more than $20 per hour. I'm just a nice person.

SP

	14-03-2003 06:19									#16
	Got spare money?

not unlike the surgical strike of spam for 59 minutes one march afternoon. i get misty!

Really though, TAs do a lot of the boring ass work and should get every cent they do. i plan on being a TA BTW

	14-03-2003 06:22									#17
	Got spare money?

I think a TA's hourly wage should be dependant upon user feedback.

All of my TAs but one is totally useless. They always screw up marking, they can't explain anything, half the time they barely speak English.

If I had my way, most TAs would get maybe $10CDN/hour, while my really awesome TA would get ~$40CDN/hour. She's really worth it. The prof for that class is terrible, but she puts in lots of time and effort into explaining things and answering questions usefully.

	14-03-2003 06:31									#18
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My mom got $14 per hour working in the public school system as a TA and SSA (special services assistant; way harder than TAing). I've never had a good TA. I don't mind the accents, but it's clear that they don't want to be there. One of them wasn't too bad, but he was kind of bland and was a fan of Richard Stallman (I dropped the course).

SP

	14-03-2003 06:41									#19
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I think TA remuneration should definitely be linked to the cost of their own studies at the same institution. They are in a unique situation of being both a consumer and producer. What they get paid must be a reflection of their own costs of living and costs to study. That doesn't mean it has to match, though. Does it?

Be that as it may, of course you should cross the line. It would be absurd for any of the pickets to expect you to negatively effect your own education for any cause.

	14-03-2003 06:54									#20
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I don't think the fact that the TA's are producers has anything to do with it.

Professors get piss-poor pay raises even though tuition rises much faster all the time, why should TA's be linked to the cost of tuition?

Seems very silly to me.

	14-03-2003 07:00									#21
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Hint, they are working their way through graduate school. Does that help?

	14-03-2003 07:03									#22
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This is why universities need more regulation. Such tuition raises are absurd money-grabbing and the universities only do it because they know they can get away with it.

	14-03-2003 07:07									#23
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quote: Originally posted by notyoueither Hint, they are working their way through graduate school. Does that help?

No, because many profs are doing post-doc stuff, research, or other things.

If TAs can link their wages to their tuition costs, all students should be able to link their wages to tuition costs. Which is silly.

	14-03-2003 07:09									#24
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I've never crossed a picket and may I join Hoffa in the ground if I do. I'd rather be dead than be a god-damned scab.

	14-03-2003 07:11									#25
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Scab...those things that are necessary for healing. Beneficial.

	14-03-2003 07:11									#26
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quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara I've never crossed a picket and may I join Hoffa in the ground if I do. I'd rather be dead than be a god-damned scab.

How in hell is being a student being a scab? If they raised my tuition 45%, I'd cross any picket line that wants me to stop going to school.

Are they going to reimburse me? Hell no. I pay the tuition whether I go to school or not.

ACK!

	14-03-2003 07:30									#27
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quote: Originally posted by Asher Professors get piss-poor pay raises even though tuition rises much faster all the time, why should TA's be linked to the cost of tuition? Seems very silly to me.

Because professors don't have to pay tuition?

	14-03-2003 07:45									#28
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The picket lines are now illegal so you should have no moral qualms about crossing.

The TAs position doesn't seem realistic to me. They are TAs. Most are students working on an advanced degree that are getting a decent amount of cash to assist their further education. This is not normally a long term employment opportunity.

I know of no group of TAs nationally that expect some kind of tuition break when it rises except for this group. These people probably got bad advice from some militant union leader.

	14-03-2003 07:50									#29
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quote: Originally posted by RedFred I know of no group of TAs nationally that expect some kind of tuition break when it rises except for this group. These people probably got bad advice from some militant union leader.

Probably from someone who isn't a TA

	14-03-2003 07:52									#30
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Why does everyone expect workers to be slaves?