An Open Letter to Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association

Just in case you missed it, here is the Open Letter to Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association:

We, the undersigned, issue this letter as the official student representatives to the Senate and Board of Governors of Wilfrid Laurier University.

The recent labour dispute between Contract Academic Staff and the University has caused immense disruption, stress, and potentially negative long-term consequences for students in classes taught, assisted, or otherwise facilitated by these staff. These problems have been magnified by a consistent lack of communication, clarity, or transparency from either side with regards to the impact that this dispute will have and what plans there are to mitigate it. This is unacceptable.

Furthermore, the rhetoric issued by both sides has given students the distinct impression that they are being used as a bargaining chip and has consistently misrepresented the realities of the situation. This is disingenuous and insulting and must stop.

As student representatives, we take no side in the labour dispute; the student body is the third side, the side that has been consistently neglected throughout this entire process. Thus we demand a course of action that minimizes any further negative impact on students. We recognize that academic integrity has already been seriously compromised, and ask that any solution err on the side of the students. Pursuant to this, we have a number of demands:

1. Every student enrolled in a course with any element provided by Contract Academic Staff should be automatically granted a passing credit (not affecting their average) with a 25 percent refund commensurate to the 25 percent of classes missed
a. Students should also have the option to drop these courses with a 100 percent refund if they so wish.
b. Any student who has already dropped a course should be able to petition for either of these options.

2. Both the Wilfrid Laurier University Administration and the Faculty Association should immediately issue letters of apology for the stress and anxiety caused to students by the rhetoric and lack of communication during the past two weeks.

3. Whatever the University decides to do, the negotiation of that decision should be done in the open, in consultation with the students elected to represent students at that relevant governing body.

4. Furthermore, in light of the poor communication that has so far been in evidence, we expect communication of the final decision to be made in all of these ways.
a. The WLU Email ListServe
b. Press releases on the WLU Website
c. Advertisements in the Cord Weekly
d. Posters placed around campus
e. WebCT announcements.

5. Students should not be expected to hand in assignments due during the strike period or write exams in any class with elements provided by Contract Academic Staff, for the following reasons:

a. Students require class time and professor feedback in order to complete assignments and prepare for exams. It is unacceptable to expect otherwise.
b. In absence of a clearly defined and publicized course of action for students, it is perfectly reasonable to expect that they may not have completed the work.
c. There are students who do not want to cross picket lines. This is their right and must be explicitly respected.
d. Students have had absolutely no say in the decisions to collect course work as assigned.

6. Any course of action should minimize the number of students who are compelled to pursue petitions. Furthermore:
a. All petition fees in these cases should be waived.
b. Senate or Senate Executive must also approve any extraordinary petitions procedure.

7. No academic decisions should ever be announced to the community or made formal without the explicit input from and discussion by students.

If the above necessary actions are not taken, it will be taken as a clear indication that neither party in this dispute is sufficiently concerned with the interest of students at Wilfrid Laurier University.


Sincerely,

Josh Smyth, Senator
Bryn Ossington, Senator
Rachael Baker, Senator
Mark Ciesluk, Senator
Saad Aslam, Senator-Elect
Janice Lee, Senator-Elect
Paul Laanemets, Senator-Elect
Colin LeFevre, Senator
Culum Canally, Governor
Keren Gottfried, Governor
Matt Park, Governor
Jon Champagne, Governor-elect

Well spoken, I think every student will approve.

Remarkable Initiative

Another CAS support group formed on Facebook by individual initiative of two wonderful ladies calling for an end to the strike with a fair deal for the CAS. They have created a remarkable website that provides especially useful tools where you can simply input your name, press a button, and send an e-mail to the administration. You can find one for parents, students, alumni, and citizens to fill out and click away.

Send the administration your concern!

Thank You From the SSG

I would like to thank the residents of the Bricker apartments for putting "We *heart* CAS" on their window so that it is visible from one of the picketing locations. It's great to see other students taking personal initiative in creative ways to aid in this crisis.

I'd like to urge everyone - from any year, to put similar messages of support in their residences, apartments, homes or other places of residence. If you wish, WLUFA fliers for such purposes are available at the Strike Office at 255 King St. Unit 6.

Rally Tomorrow

Tomorrow (March 20th) if you have time, come by the Strike Office (255 King St. N. Unit 6, right by Get Stuffed), at 11. We, the students, will walk through the campus and gather as much student support as possible. Then, we'll go to St. Michael's parking lot by 12:00 and till 2:00 there will be a rally from all sorts of supporters, both part-time faculty, full-time faculty, staff, students, and supporters from other universities.

Come out and support, they need our help!

Tuesday

Whatever this day will bring - we'll keep on fighting till the end.

Quiet sit-in in the hallway leading to the administration offices today between 10:00 and 4:00 - feel free to come and leave at any time.

The Strike Vote has Passed

From the WLUFA website:

The CAS Strike Authorization ballot was completed today.

89.4% voted in favour of authorizing the WLUFA executive to call a strike if necessary.

The teams will be in mediation on Monday March 17th and Tuesday March 18th. The Bargaining Unit will be in a legal position to strike as of 12:01 am on Wednesday March 19th.

Now, before anyone panics let it be emphasized - this does not mean there will be a strike. It only gives the executive power to call for one if mediation on the 17th and 18th fails. If anything, this vote says that a strike may be averted because it puts more pressure on the administration to settle. Also, look at that number and what it is saying - there are 365 CAS/part-time profs now at Laurier and 89.4% are fed up with the way they are being treated by the administration, so much so, that they are willing to do the most drastic labour action they can to fight for their livelihood. If all 365 of them voted, 326 of them are fed up with their working conditions to that point - that's a lot of our profs very, very upset.

It's paramount now that we stand behind them in this time of need and much still depends on us, the students, who have a big stake in these negotiations - we must pressure the administration to settle, the profs need our support. So, even if it's for a few minutes, show up to our demonstration on Monday 17th at noon - it will be leaving from the Dining Hall, concourse, and the Science Building atrium to gather in the quad outside of the Fred Nichols Campus Centre by about 12:15-12:30. We need more people there to show that Laurier stands united behind the part-timers!

What can you do?

Dear students,

Don't panic. Don't fret. Fear is not good for the soul.

The feeling of powerlessness is what drives us into apathy. When we let ourselves think for one moment that we can be pressured into being afraid, then we start shifting into that dangerous territory where we lose what we have. Right now, we have a negotiation that is moving at a turtle's pace, and an administration who won't release details on what will happen to us.

What exists here at Laurier is a strong community. Whether it is an issue like the Hawk, supporting our amazing sports teams, ecological responsibility, a stance on the war, the creation or maintenance of a club, the election of WLUSU representation, or any other undertaking, we come together in a unique fashion. We often rely on each other. This is where our strength lies.

We need to demand two things:

1. Honest answers about what will happen with our term if strike or lockout happens.
2. A speedy resolution where CAS will be valued.

The administration needs to hear from us. Send emails, call them, send written letters, drop by and see them... Do remember to always stay respectful in your requests. It is important that we are taken seriously.


There will be a peaceful demonstration on Monday (heck, I am even bringing my three-year old son!). It will be leaving from three locations at noon:

1. The Science Atrium
2. The Concourse
3. The Dining Hall

We will walk about, and hopefully gain momentum. We will congregate in the Quad. We will have cameras on hand, with local and maybe even national media coverage.

I hope this empowers you. We want students to see that we are important, and that we are stakeholders in this. Without us, there would be no Laurier.