Be Prepared

Another comment from a picketer today ...

"This new hyper-aggressive anti-unionism of college management makes it essential that faculty be prepared for future conflicts. Each local can create its own strike pay “top-up” fund by adding a modest amount to their local union dues. The fact that your union dues are tax-deductible, but strike pay is not taxable income makes it possible to accumulate a decent nest egg at modest cost. In just three years, a dues deduction of $15 per paycheque ($9 cost to you because it’s tax-deductible) would accumulate nearly $1,200 of strike pay at a cost to you of about $700. We should all thank Sheridan’s local for doing a fine job in this regard – now we need all the locals in the system to do the same in the future. If college management knows we are financially well-prepared, they will be less ready to force another strike next time! The colleges’ lead negotiator has said that “It’s just a game”, so we need be ready to play their game right back at them."