Strike - 2021 - academics

Graduate students do not have set hours. How can it be determined whether or not they are on strike?

Once a strike begins, you may ask student workers if they intend to withhold work since it may not be obvious, especially if students work remotely and/or still come to lab. Please refer to the question "Can I ask student workers about their strike plans?" for more detailed guidance. 

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How will I know if the instructional support staff for my course go on strike?

As noted elsewhere in this guidance, in order to avoid any suggestion of coercion, supervisors should not ask student workers about their strike plans in advance of the start of a strike. However, once a strike has commenced, it will be essential to know whether your instructional staff are teaching or grading student work. Here are several suggested approaches:

  • When a strike has commenced, you could send an email to all instructional staff in your course, asking them to let you know if they will be covering their sections and grading during the strike. However, the...
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How will I know if an RA goes on strike?

RAs have a dual role: they are students as well as workers. As a result, you can and should ask students whether they intend to fulfill their academic responsibilities and obligations to a research project, including during a potential strike. In having these conversations, you should keep the focus on academic and project responsibilities and not on whether students are striking.

If a union member withholds work during the strike, what options do I have for covering the work?

Protecting the University’s academic mission remains a priority for the University and delivering curriculum to students is an essential part of that mission. There are no restrictions on ensuring that work gets done. Faculty/managers have the right to hire additional staff, hire replacement teaching assistants, revise course requirements, and/or handle teaching and grading themselves. Faculty/managers should consult with their local administration for more specific guidance.

With appropriate local approvals and policy compliance, faculty/managers may hire staff to do the work...

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Can student workers who do not strike work as replacement staff for those who choose to strike?

While we cannot currently know how many student workers will choose to strike, should one be authorized, those who don’t strike, and who continue to teach, may be offered extra work for additional compensation. Extra work is defined as the performance of University work that falls entirely outside an employee's normal, regular job assignment. The employee’s acceptance of an extra work for extra pay assignment must be optional. For questions about this policy or the procedures involved, including questions regarding appropriate extra pay for extra work, please contact studentunionization@...

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