Dean of students says program changes student relationship
Unionization could make the student employment program at St. Thomas University less flexible said Larry Batt, Dean of Students and Registrar in an email to students last Tuesday.
“I am concerned that we may lose some of the positive benefits of the current program if the University is placed into a different relationship with students, changing from a partnership to one of being strictly a formal ‘employer’ with all the required rules of employability, seniority, dues, and conflict resolution.
“It may change the program significantly and take away much of the flexibility.”
One of the organizers of the unionization effort, Rebeka Frazer-Chiasson, said she felt the email was “a bit of a slap in the face” because to her it seemed like the letter was saying student work wasn’t valued by the university.
“I commit a portion of my week to doing work on campus and I feel that I do it well and then I’m told that it actually is just like charity or giving you the money so that you can put that on your resume or whatever,” Frazer-Chiasson said.
Batt said that was never his intention with the email. In the email, Batt said STU started employing students to help build up their resumes and provide financial assistance.
“It was meant to give a little history to the development and offering of student jobs on campus. No question, we value the contribution of students to our community,” he said in an interview.
St. Thomas Union of Student Employees is requesting students go ahead and sign the cards if they want the union.
Frazer-Chiasson said students need to know it is a “yes” or “no” issue and they can’t sit on the fence. She added that inaction effectively says “no” to the union.
“So if you’re still sort of thinking about it and weighing the pros and cons, definitely do [it],” she said. “But know that you have to make a decision soon and to not decide is to decide no.”
The goal of STUSE is to have 60 per cent of student employees sign cards before the end of semester to reach automatic certification from the provincial labour board.
Frazer-Chiasson said the effort is on track to meet that goal but they need to file the papers soon.
When those who have signed cards end their employment contracts at the end of the semester, their signatures no longer count so Frazer-Chiasson said STUSE is pushing to get the required signatures.
Part of the reason for the unionization effort was to give employees a greater voice regarding working conditions.
Larry Batt said if students have any issues with their working conditions or questions they can contact him.
Batt said he received a positive response from at least 15 people about the email he sent last week.
