Potential College Strike

[justjulie]

Is anyone else's child going to be effected by the potential college strike the teachers are voting on today? From what I've read, many of the students are not happy and are actually voicing their opinions on the possibility of a strike. Many of them are afraid of losing not only their year but their potential summer and/or full-time jobs that are contingent on their diplomas.

Colleges have released statements indicating they will provide "semester completion plans" but what that means no one seems to know. For students whose courses are booked based they may be able to complete assignments but for those students in a "hands-on" course like Culinary Arts or a Cabinet Making they will be unable to move forward as they will not be able to complete lab work.

Anyone else in the same boat?

 

[alamode]

Unfortunately in any strike there are innocent people effected. The Toronto Employees strike was horrific for everyone. If they are in a legal strike position, they have the right to do so, no matter how many people they inconvenience in the process.

I'm the last person to defend a union, but they have their rights too.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I am currently attending college and all my classmates laughed because they know if there is a strike I will want to go to WDW, if only I could afford it right now but I am saving for the December trip I have booked.

It will not be good if they strike but like alamode said they have the right... I am preparing myself for the possibility that I will be going to school possibly into July and it sucks cause I should be working by then and I have 3 kids to support but it will work itself out.. it always does

 

[justjulie]

What college are you attending? I'm hoping they settle before they strike and that the strike mandate is just a bargaining tool to force them all back to the table.

Has your school advised you of any of the "strike preparation" to attempt to continue your studies through read-ahead assignments or anything like that? I understand the first thing to go will be the reading week break and then a push-out past the April school end of year.

 

[disneyvacationmom]

My daughter is doing a 3 semester post grad course at Seneca, so she will be in school all summer. My biggest concern with the strike is her living arrangements as her lease is up at the end of August. She will need to find a short term place to stay if school is extended.( I suppose commuting short term is a possiblitly) The same thing happened one year when my son was in school. He was also in a year round program but somehow, it all worked out.

 

[Tinkermom76]

What college are you attending? I'm hoping they settle before they strike and that the strike mandate is just a bargaining tool to force them all back to the table.

Has your school advised you of any of the "strike preparation" to attempt to continue your studies through read-ahead assignments or anything like that? I understand the first thing to go will be the reading week break and then a push-out past the April school end of year.

I attend Sheridan College and they have sent us emails telling us that they have plans in case of a strike but they haven't told us what they are

 

[mlegerto]

I am a student at York University in Toronto. Last year I was affected heavily by the 14 week strike that York had. They did the same things to us; told us there were plans for semester completion incase of a strike, but we were not told WHAT these plans were until the strike was resolved. What ended up happening was our school year ending date was pushed back and the information within the courses were compressed. Instead of ending the 2nd week in April we ended out final exams the 3rd week of June. This resulted in a lot of students losing there summer jobs, co-ops and internships, but the school said there was nothing else that they could do.

All in all it was a horrible experience and I hope these colleges do not go on strike because IF it ends up being as long of a process as it was for us last year then I can only assume they will follow similar procedures.

 

[dancin Disney style]

My DD is also a Sheridan student and she is really upset about it. Which I am mildly amused about since she only paid for half of her expenses this year and she doesn't seem to feel the need to find herself a full time summer job. I take some blame for that since we really didn't want her worrying about money while in college but at the same time we wanted her to feel some responsibility for her own education. We agreed to pay for half. Anyway, she has been posting on Facebook with her friends about how angry they are with the possibility of a strike. Meanwhile none of them can even understand why or what it's truely about. They all live at home with mommy and daddy and are not even fully responsible for themselves.

On a different note...while I can understand that everyone wants a raise I am a little tired of people that have the attitude that they deserve it. Try being self employed...no vacation pay or paid days off. It seems like no one is greatful to have the jobs that they have.

 

[Tinky99]

On a different note...while I can understand that everyone wants a raise I am a little tired of people that have the attitude that they deserve it. Try being self employed...no vacation pay or paid days off. It seems like no one is greatful to have the jobs that they have.

This is a very uninformed statement . . . the potential college strike has nothing to do with wanting a raise! One should be knowlegeable about the issues before posting such blanket statements about people!

Also, IMO, being self-employed is a choice. You knew you had no vacation pay or paid days off when you made that choice. Do not complain about your choice to be self-employed by blaming others for their choice to have an employer.

 

[dancin Disney style]

This is a very uninformed statement . . . the potential college strike has nothing to do with wanting a raise! One should be knowlegeable about the issues before posting such blanket statements about people!

Also, IMO, being self-employed is a choice. You knew you had no vacation pay or paid days off when you made that choice. Do not complain about your choice to be self-employed by blaming others for their choice to have an employer.

WOW...how nice of you.

 

[spatulaqueen27]

I am actually a mature student in Lambton College. They voted yes, but I am not going to worry until they actually announce it. I guess if they do, I just have to study independently. I am not happy about it but what can I do about it, right?

 

[MamaLema]

I am a mature student in my last semester. I am worried because my DH bought a non-refundable ticket to visit his family back home in May when I finish. They have planned months in advance for his visit. If there is a strike and the semester is extended, I have no one to take my kids to school or pick them up while I am in school and practicum.

 

[brighteyes]

I am also a mature student. I am in my third and final year. This is my last semester. This strike if it happens will be a nightmare. My college program is already VERY condensed and very crammed.

We are told by my profs that when there was a strike before that my college did NOT extend the semester. The profs were told to finish the semester on time, without compromising the content of the course.

In this last semester part of my requirement is field placement, and part of that is running a group for children. (I am in social services) However, I cannot be at placement because I am not covered by WSIB if there is a strike. I am able to volunteer but cannot run a group as a volunteer. This is all a big nightmare and my class is very upset.

We have been told that we have our books and all of our assignments and if there is a strike to just go ahead and read our books and complete our assignments. We feel like we have just paid tuition to teach ourselves.

Not a happy camper. Sorry for the vent. I hope others have better luck. There is hope that they will settle before the middle of Feb which is when they say they will strike.