The union representing approximately 2,300 teaching assistants, graduate service assistants and sessional lecturers at the University of Guelph has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate.
But the head of CUPE Local 3913 says the preference is to reach a fair deal with the university.
The strike mandate vote took place over the course of a few weeks in February.
Scott Duchesne, president of CUPE Local 3913, said 92 per cent came back voting in favour.
“We are not looking to strike,” he said. “We will strike, if necessary.”
Workers are still on the job, operating under the terms of the previous contract, until a new agreement is reached.
Duchesne said mental health is one of the union’s top priorities.
“We requested a mental health fund for our members that we can administer,” he said. “That was denied.
“They are trying to find other ways to address mental health. But so far, we haven’t found them to be very good.”
Other issues include wages and benefits. Duchesne said the union is looking for a wage increase to account for the rise of inflation and cost of living.
For benefits, he adds he would like to see funding so more members can have access, and more benefits can be offered.
The other issue relates to workload, more specifically a reduction in the number of work assignments the university can offer a member, while also shifting money into a stipend.
“Underneath all of that is just general funding,” he said. “Tuition costs, especially for our international students that force many of our international students and some of our domestic members to find part-time jobs, sometimes one or two, or even three part-time jobs.”
He said that delays their ability to complete their program on time, and impacts their mental health.
It forms a symbiotic circle, he said. What affects one person affects another.
Duchesne said he has directly referenced Obi-Wan Kenobi’s statement from Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace to management in these talks.
“It also applies to lack of funding affects mental health," he said. "Mental health affects how they complete their program of work. It all plays into each other.”
The union is in the conciliation phase of bargaining, meaning a government mediator has stepped in to help both parties reach a settlement.
The first meeting is scheduled for Friday.
In a statement to GuelphToday, the University of Guelph says it and the union "continue to work toward reaching a new collective agreement."
"The university is committed to reaching an agreement that is fair and responsible. We remain confident that an agreement can be reached," the statement said.
"The university deeply values its teaching assistants, graduate service assistants and sessional lecturers and their work. We look forward to continued discussions."
