CUPE 2626, the union representing teaching assistants, tutors, residence life workers, and other employees at the U of O, has been bargaining with the university for a year following the expiration of their previous agreement.
CUPE 2626
Campus unions at the University of Ottawa are calling on the administration to waive tuition fees for the upcoming spring and summer semesters after the global COVID-19 pandemic closed many of the school’s services indefinitely and shifted both semesters online, while also posing major financial challenges for students.
The UOSU, BSLA, OPIRG, CUPE 2626, WISE and 16 student governments say the U of O ‘fails to address systemic racism in a meaningful way’ and calls on U of O president Jacques Frémont to implement eight demands for action.
“(These changes are) not benefitting anyone except Ford and his cronies … we’re going to have to fight back.” — Susan Spronk, president of the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa.
“With such a great reputation to upkeep, the university should cover basics, such as providing food services on its campuses year round, rather than sending its own students, faculty, and staff roaming and searching in lack of sustenance and nourishment, in the name of summer hours and summer savings.”
“I have to admit I was surprised by this honour,” said Bedford. “After all, you guys believe in freedom. I believe in bondage. You like free speech. I gag my clients. You support equality. I preach female superiority. You promote humane treatment of prisoners. I torture mine. But why fuss over details?”
The union of student workers at the University of Ottawa has passed a strike mandate and could potentially walk off the job during exams in April.
