Whenever democratic processes and principles make a splash, it’s worth discussing how and why. Democracy means that instead of acting out of self-interest, people come together and work in unison. On Sunday, September 7, with the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1998 prepared to strike on Monday morning, the University of Toronto sent a contract proposal in the eleventh hour. The delay was the result of the union’s demands for improved working conditions and fair salaries; the deal resulted from the union’s willingness to use their collective power, if necessary, to have those demands met. Their victory—which came without the need to resort to a strike—is a victory for democracy on campus, and a lesson to all citizens.
The details of the new USW contract were laid out to union members last Wednesday, and endorsed by union leadership as a good deal. The deal included an improved policy against harassment, added benefits, and regular wage increases to match inflation rates. Avoiding the strike meant a happy ending for all concerned. Yet this did not come easily.
During contract talks with the University, ongoing since June, the Steelworkers’ mantra was “the University works because we do.” More than a catchy slogan, this phrase was a reminder that an institution is nothing without the people that make it function. The 3,500 USW members affected by recent bargaining are comprised of a variety of administrative and technical personnel, all of whom are relied upon. The union’s message of solidarity had clearly been effective: when contract talks reached an impasse earlier this month, 2,100 union members showed up to vote 87 per cent in favour of a strike. Had these individuals not shown up for work last Monday, the University would have been a vastly different place. There wouldn’t have been technicians available to keep ROSI and UTORmail working in the face of an onslaught of traffic. Administrative personnel wouldn’t have managed OSAP distribution, bursary distribution or the general concerns of new students on campus. In the words of Local 1998 president Allison Dubarry, the campus on the first day of school would have been “absolute chaos.”
The Steelworkers were not alone, as other campus unions were ready to lend their resources and support. “We’ve been working with Steel and other locals on coordinated bargaining since February, and it’s obviously paying off. The University knows when they face one of us, they face all of us,” says Robert Ramsey, Chair of CUPE 3902.
By raising their voices in solidarity with other campus unions, the members of USW gave force to their demands. Acting together, these workers illustrated the serious consequences that would result if the University failed to address them fairly.
Whether a national government or a local university, it’s important to realize that we, as a collective, create the institutions that we live under. Acting individually and competitively, as we are often compelled to do, we see institutions as larger than ourselves. Acting together, we become the institution. It is our duty to participate, to assure that our university remains, above all, ours.
The university’s eleventh-hour contract offer shows that they had the money and the resources to provide USW with a fair deal all along. However, the university was not willing to provide this offer unless they could be sure that the workers were resolved to accept nothing less. This instance exemplifies the crucial balance between power and citizenry. Power is, by definition, active and organized; citizens must work together if they are to have their interests accounted for by those in power. Merely hoping for the best has never been good enough, and it never will be.
Maciek Lipinski-Harten is the CUPE 3902 Life Sciences Steward on the St. George Campus.
