"On the afternoon of March 4th, I decided to visit the striking TAs' at the driveway of Mississauga campus. I greeted the strikers with apples, oranges and bananas, and asked for their consent before I started taking pictures. After talking with many of the strikers, I heard many stories about the reality of the lives of Grad students. TAs, Course Instructors, and Sessional Lecturers all must band together and strike now because of the frozen funding." Olivia Zaloski, Student- Photographer
University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus
“What’s outrageous? Our TA wages!” The strikers proclaimed.
The numbers of this are upsetting and unsettling. Within the contract that these grad students sign, they cannot get a job outside of University of Toronto.
On top of this limited funding, these graduate students must pay $8500 for tuition, whether they take classes or not.
Most of the grad students live in grimy apartments and survive on off-brand Kraft Dinner and Ramen Noodles because they can’t afford anything more. Some grad students are lucky enough to have settled down with someone who has a decent salary.
After nearly a year’s worth of requests, the University decided to meet and discuss the issue only a few weeks before the strike was supposed to begin. The University did not offer a deal of any sort and since their last meeting, and has ignored the union’s request for a meeting.
“I said brrr! It’s cold out here! Our funding has been frozen for seven years!” they chanted.
The University has been pushing the undergrads to ignore the issue too and has been blaming the rearranged and inconvenient bus routes on the strike, but the Miway has changed its routes in support, not conspiracy.
As a student, I’ve only seen two professors who have been supportive of the strikers; I’ve seen disapproval or ignorance about the issue from professors and students alike and it disgusts me.
I wonder where our school pride is and why there is a lack of passion for this issue. Generally, people should be paid a fair wage for their work, it’s simple.
Many cars would drive by, honking with support to which the strikers would respond with ‘woots’ and hollers.
“Of money, the University has oodles, but all we have are ramen noodles!”
However, some drivers aren’t so supportive; some would rev their engine and speed past the strikers without a concern for the striker’s safety.
Other drivers were less passive aggressive and more direct. On one occasion, a driver (who did not have right of way I might add) sat idle in the middle of the crossing with a firm hand blaring the car horn, expressing her disapproval, or rather, annoyance with the strike.
However, there were many people who came forth with coffee, hot chocolate, hot samosas and other treats to show support.
Meeting up with the strikers and understanding their side of the story gave me an enlightened perspective on the strike.
The people I met were upset about their poverty but were happy to join together to make a change.
Learn more: http://cupe3902.org/ or ask your University “what is up.”
