CUTS-1001: Intro to Student Strikes

How your actions can directly affect the government’s decision

Recent government discussions surrounding cuts to post-secondary education have made waves across New Brunswick. A 10 per cent cut stemming from an internal document given to universities across the province would take away 35 to 50 million dollars from post-secondary funding for the upcoming March 17 budget. Students at Mt.A are additionally concerned about the proposed privatization of the University. In a Feb. 23 email to students, University President Ian Sutherland said “the government has not communicated any specific decisions, budgetary or otherwise, to Mount Allison, nor any other post-secondary institution.” The concerns surrounding impacts on university programming and courses has led to the discussion and plans for student strikes, acting as a means to demand change.

 

During this time, it is important to stay informed on these protests and how these actions can protect post-secondary education. An initial provincial strike was planned for March 12 in Fredericton, however due to weather delays, organizers are now encouraging those interested to join in demonstrations on March 17. On March 9, MASU President Wilson Paluch emailed Mt.A students announcing a similar plan to protest in Fredericton on March 17, with free transportation available for students who signed up. Local organizers at Mt.A (Instagram: @mtastudentstrike) are also planning to host a peaceful protest at campus on March 27, beginning outside of the R.P. Bell Library at 12:30 p.m.

 

A student strike is a protest where all students refuse to attend class or submit assignments. During a strike, students can still utilize campus resources, such as the gym and the dining hall, and students can still attend student union events. If a strike prolongs for an extended period, it can result in the current semester being delayed, and the start of the following semester being delayed or even cancelled. This means that the money invested into universities by the province would theoretically be wasted. This could also lead to universities having to support double the amount of students in certain classes due to the delays. A strike is voted on by the student union at a general assembly and would mean that all MASU members are heavily encouraged to participate. All full and part-time students are members of the MASU. These strikes can also involve peaceful protests outside university buildings, expressing grievances with the proposed plans and discouraging students from breaking their strike.

Mt.A’s discussion around strikes was born from the concerning budget cuts proposed by the Holt Government in NB. These cuts would lead to less post-secondary education selection for NB students, as well as higher tuition costs for available schools. This cut could force NB students to seek university education in other provinces. Another discussion by the Holt Government was the privatisation of Mt.A. The privatization of a university could drive tuition costs higher and would lead to an increased reliance on corporate sponsors. Another alarming proposal focused on the merging of STU with UNB. The merging of the two universities could result in faculty job loss and strain on campus resources. While Premier Holt has since rescinded these statements, the fact the privatisation and merging of staple NB universities was even being discussed is concerning for students. 

While this may sound stressful and disruptive to your studies, a student strike is generally safe, though it is not without risks. Participating will not cause students to fail a semester, but continued protest during a strike can lead to student arrests in an attempt to force students back to the classroom. University staff and faculty will not have their salaries threatened, as, by law, the university has to continue paying their employees as well as keep their services running. A university and government cannot afford to have semesters canceled, meaning the threat of a strike can lead to important discussions by governmental institutions about the proposed cuts.

 

In the past, student strikes in Canada have led to real change. In 2012, Quebec students protested the proposed bill that would increase university tuition by 75 per cent over a five year period. This strike eventually led to the cancellation of the bill. Over 200,000 post-secondary students in Quebec participated in the strike, which led to the Quebec government attempting to stop the protest via Bill 78 (Bill 12). This bill forced students back into classrooms and limited their ability to protest, ultimately contradicting Quebec’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Students still continued to protest which led to a “concert des casseroles” (concert of pots and pans), where students took to local streets and banged on pots and pans. In September of 2012, the bills were repealed and the plans to raise tuition were cancelled, leading the student union to vote to have students return to class. While the 2012 Quebec student strike led to over 3,000 arrests, it still led to the government suspending the planned bills. 

 

You can stay up to date more on student strikes and the plans of the Mt.A student union by following the MASU social media pages (@masuofficial on Instagram and Mount Allison Students’ Union on Facebook). You can also follow the previously mentioned Mt.A student strike page and the NB student strike pages on Instagram (@nbstudentstrike). If you have any questions or concerns about the protests, you can email the MASU President at [email protected].