BRZ Owner At York University

[sprintertrueno86]

They're lucky that the protesters didn't stuck their arms in concrete barriers blocking traffic like they did in Boston.


Thank god I made it to work before it happened that day.

[FRSNewb]

Originally Posted by JERM^

I certainly don't agree with the guy flipping out violently but I just don't think a strike should be blocking off the road like that. The people being blocked in are the people actually paying you and they can't make a call on increasing your pay either so don't make their life miserable in a fight just for money. Why make yourself appear uneducated when you are trying to have media on your side? There should be a more civilized way. People are on the street protesting about lives being lost in another side of world and they don't block off roads. I mean come on.

Just one of millions of photos you can find about the hundreds of reasons people protest...

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

I support the TA strike 100%


the fact that the schools are "keeping classes open" is a sign of how little fucks they give, and that's not right.

They should be blocking other staff, but not students. Making life hell for the students is going to do nothing to gain their support.

[Canehda]

Well I'm going to just go out on a limb here as an actual TA with one of the unions striking and explain basically what is going on because I think there is a lot of aggression towards the ones striking. I personally have no intention of picketing mainly because I really dont care as I get most of my income from a summer job, and tbh its too cold for me. Yesterday I also had classes in the morning and anyone in the Mississauga rd and dundas area probably realized that all three entrances to the school (UTM) were completely blocked off. Now I dont know about York but at UTM, Mississauga Rd (the road that was essentially blocked off) has almost zero traffic aside from faculty and students, so really the only ones who were delayed are students and faculty.
Anyone with a functioning brain should be thinking "hmm if it seems like no one who drives is able to get into the school, there is a good chance that a lot of people are affected, not just me. Maybe I should wait patiently for the protesters to make their point and then go into class like everyone else waiting because its not really my fault this is happening and I really wont face negative consequences". In fact professors were sending out mass emails saying that classes were cancelled because of this. So it still makes me wonder why people like this guy in the video are flipping out, if your classes are cancelled then you really don't have somewhere to be, but instead people take it personally and flip shit because "these people are blocking ME". Honestly all this strike has done is shown me how selfish people surround me at my school; selfish admin, selfish TAs, selfish profs and of course selfish students. Sadly all these people own cars and what happened above is the result. I'm not going to defend his actions, and I'm also not going to defend the people striking and blocking the road, it was just a bad situation waiting to happen.
The only thing I WILL say is that all students received an email essentially saying that classes will remain open as usual and the absence of TAs will not change much, however if you feel threatened by the TAs you should remember that you can call 9-1-1. Yeah as a TA I took that as "Hey kids, TAs are a bunch of whiney bitches that are essentially animals while striking, also classes will remain open because in our opinions TAs don't do shit" Personally when I read that I felt like Jeremy Clarkson-ing the Admin employee that wrote it.

[Heero]

If I had to wait hours like this dude, I would SNAP as well. Blame the protesters, not the average joe tryin to finish his degree.

I also don't get the hate towards his outfit. Everyone has their own unique look. Would the situation be any different if he dressed like a goth?

Originally Posted by Canehda

Well I'm going to just go out on a limb here as an actual TA with one of the unions striking and explain basically what is going on because I think there is a lot of aggression towards the ones striking.

I go to Waterloo (finally graduating, yeaaaaaa!), so I am a bit out of the loop. But I heard that TAs at York make 15000 a year, yet they want a further raise?

What exactly is the reason for them feeling 15k is inadequate? That is more money than I made during my co-op work term, and more money than I make working a part time job during University.

To be honest, I am pissed off at the TAs and I don't even go to either of these schools.

I TA'd for a class a semester ago, and the work was extremely easy. I wish there were more opportunities for students such as myself to work on Campus.

[wparsons]

I think York and UofT have a higher percentage of mature students doing masters/phd programs trying to live off TA wages.

[Mr.Impreza]

Honestly, I don't get it. What is the video about? People blocking a road?

edit

Oh i see, it's about school thing....so what is the problem? The guys was pissed off...so would many people.

[Heero]

Originally Posted by wparsons

I think York and UofT have a higher percentage of mature students doing masters/phd programs trying to live off TA wages.

Maybe, but at the end of the day they are making 15000, while studying. That's 40$ an hour?

And they are free to find other part time jobs.

[wparsons]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them... most TA's I knew were happy with the money they were paid because they saw it as supplemental income while they were studying. It seems that York and UofT have more people trying to maintain their previous standard of living whlie studying.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Heero

Maybe, but at the end of the day they are making 15000, while studying. That's 40$ an hour?

And they are free to find other part time jobs.

the 15 includes their cost of tuition, so their takeaway is way less.


also, they're not really "free" to find another part time job, because grad work and studies aren't exactly easy breezy.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them... most TA's I knew were happy with the money they were paid because they saw it as supplemental income while they were studying. It seems that York and UofT have more people trying to maintain their previous standard of living whlie studying.

the TA's ive met during my 10-year stay at York don't have what I would consider "a standard of living,"


bottom line is that graduate work is not appreciated, which is why they're striking,


people working in fields of higher education shouldn't EVER feel like they've made the wrong choice due to financial reasons

[JERM^]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

the 15 includes their cost of tuition, so their takeaway is way less.


also, they're not really "free" to find another part time job, because grad work and studies aren't exactly easy breezy.

They chose to stay in school didn't they. My undergraduate program isn't easy either, how did we all make it through then? After all they just want to maintain an employed level of living which is not possible if you chose academics...

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by wparsons

It seems that York and UofT have more people trying to maintain their previous standard of living whlie studying.

Of course. You can't afford an iPhone 6S and a top of the line laptop on 15K/year.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by JERM^

They chose to stay in school didn't they. My undergraduate program isn't easy either, how did we all make it through then? After all they just want to maintain an employed level of living which is not possible if you chose academics...

I don't know about you, but my undergrad was during night time hours and spread out over a longer period by taking less than 100% course load. I had a day-time job and lived with parents. Made my undergrad was a breeze.

But many people don't quite have the same luxury.


also, studying in an undergraduate program IS NOT the same as working for your PHD and being required to be a TA. Their research work is for the betterment of mankind and effective results lead to a better image for the University.

The university, in turn, is saying that they don't really care that ya'll do a great job, we're still going to pay you the same money you could be making as a bank teller, while they collect mad stacks of cash from the ever increasing student populations and the associated subsidies.