U of M students join faculty on picket line

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This article was published 18/11/2016 (3527 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fed up with a strike that’s disrupting their education, University of Manitoba students marched with professors on the picket line Friday.

The University of Manitoba Students Union (UMSU) advertised its rally a week ahead of time and, Friday, they showed up with pizza and a sound system to blare rock tunes in an upbeat gesture of support for members of the faculty.

Friday marked Day 18 of the strike involving 1,200 faculty, and some students said they don’t want this strike to match the length of a work stoppage by faculty in 1995, which lasted 23 days.

Conciliation continued Friday, said university spokesman John Danakas. Talks are centred on new contract language brought forward by the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) dealing with workload protection.

UMFA president Mark Hudson tweeted encouragement to picketers early Friday.

“Bargaining last night. Bargaining today. Our power comes from the picket lines. Stay strong UMFA Members! #UMFAUnited #ReadyForAFairDeal.”

Students at the rally said their union joined the picket line to make their frustration public and, they hope, to save their semester.

“It’s difficult. It’s a fine line to walk the picket line,” said Ryan Churchill, a representative for the science students association on the student union, who said the student union, which represents 21,000 students, didn’t make their decision lightly. Leaders of the students’ union debated for five hours before they voted Nov. 10 to throw their support behind the faculty.

The students said they hoped their gesture would pressure both sides. They want a settlement that cuts class sizes and reduces the administrative load on professors. Much of the dispute is over workload, with faculty insisting administration ease up on instructors.

Whatever is decided, students said they want to protect the quality of their education. Their decision to back the faculty also came with a framework for an adjusted academic calendar, but it only planned for a strike of up to five weeks.

“In the last strike at the U of M back in the ’90s, the student union didn’t take a side, and the strike lasted for (more than) 20 days,” said Chris Moskal, a student who spoke at the rally.

With students taking a stand this time, maybe both sides at the bargaining table will push harder for a deal, Moskal added.

The student union forwarded a letter to both the university administration and UMFA urging a settlement.

University president and vice-chancellor David Barnard responded with a statement Friday as the rally took place.

“I recognize the difficulties you have dealt with as the university and UMFA work to reach a settlement. Talks continue today — with the assistance of a conciliator — and we will do our best to achieve an agreement as soon as possible,” Barnard said, to express his support for the students’ decision to take a stand.

“Many of you have engaged directly in the issues surrounding the strike, as in today’s rally, and I respect your right to express the opinions you have formulated,” Barnard said.

The faculty expressed gratitude in speeches at the rally.

“We totally, truly and absolutely are thankful for your support,” economics professor Ian Hudson told students. “Your support has been overwhelming.”

Several professors on the picket line said the students lightened the mood and made it almost festive.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca