Tuesday will mark 3 weeks since the start of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) strike. Last time this happened was 2016. It was over and done within 20-something days, and though there were changes to the semester, things were more or less intact. Back then, it didn't feel so bad.
I should know. I was a student then.
I'm a student now, too, and this time around, we feel far (think: thousands of miles) away from a resolution.
It's been clear to those following for weeks that UMFA and the administration are on opposing sides of a vast cavern, with admin following strict orders from the Premier's office, and UMFA fighting for a fair deal - one that was unconstitutionally ripped away from them in 2016.
In this situation, I'm neither team UMFA nor team admin. I understanding that a significant amount (majority, perhaps?) of students are vocal UMFA supporters. And yes, I think strong unions are important. But I don't think now it the time for a strike, and I don't think the evil overlord for this whole mess is the man sitting in the President's office.
No, the real, evil catalyst behind this is the thankfully-ex-Premier, Brian Pallister, and the residual remains of the Conservative party that governs Manitoba.
By all accounts, this is a conservative-sized mess; one brought about because of unnecessary government interference in bargaining back in 2016, a bandaid solution applied then, and an expired clock now.
Things have to be settled with this UMFA strike. Deep down, I think the Faculty know that they can't go on strike again this generation without losing considerable public support. 2 strikes half a decade apart isn't anything to celebrate.
The people who lose out here are the students.
I'm not the only one who was a student back in 2016, facing this yet again. Except this time, I student in my final year, ever, and my life has ground to a halt while this gets worked out. No classes, no practicum. Just waiting for a signal that things are done, that practicum can start, and that we - the students - can work on picking up the pieces to salvage this semester, and - in the case of my classmates and I - work on completing our educational requirements for professional certification.
I find it unlikely that anyone from UMFA or admin will ever see this. That's fine, and if nothing else, getting these thoughts out somewhere is cathartic in and of itself.
But to any students that may ever see this, know that like you, I'm also sick of being used as a bargaining chip. For as much as both sides will claim that this is "for us", the benefits they talk about - staff retention, happier employees down the road, etc. etc. - are things that we'll never experience directly during our time as students. And while it's nice to hope for better things for those that follow after us (a strong University of Manitoba helps support a strong province, after all), remember that at the end of the day, support who you want, but keep your own well-being and that of your classmates at the forefront of your mind.
If the last 19 days have shown us anything, it's that for students, we're really all we've got.
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