To the editors,
Unions are important to constructing sturdy, cohesive universities the place analysis and demanding thought thrive as a result of professors and college students are safe and guarded. Whereas negotiations are typically strained, they lead to larger consensus, enabling universities to meet their position of bettering and transmitting data for generations to return.
Extra just lately, nevertheless, prolonged strikes, protracted negotiations, and anti-union conduct have turn into more and more widespread not solely in the US however on the campus of McGill College in Canada. College directors at McGill are preventing tooth and nail to kill all school unions, together with its first, the Affiliation of McGill Professors of Legislation.
There are a lot of parallels between the Boston College Graduate Staff Union state of affairs and that of the Affiliation of McGill Professors of Legislation. Each got here into existence in late 2022, each suffered from foot-dragging bargaining by the college, and in each circumstances, administration retaliated in opposition to union members for union actions.
The variations are simply as hanging. McGill is in Quebec, essentially the most labor-friendly jurisdiction in North America the place unionization and anti-scab laws is the norm. It’s thus all of the extra stunning that McGill is deploying the worst personal sector ways developed by Walmart, Amazon, and Starbucks in opposition to its school unions.
McGill says it has a dedication to tutorial freedom, integrity, accountability, fairness and inclusiveness, but seeks to disclaim teachers the liberty of choosing their very own union. School unions are an indication of engagement and dedication, and a name for partnership. It’s time for Boston U, McGill and better schooling extra typically to heed that decision.
Sincerely
Evan Fox-Respectable, McGill Legislation professor and President, AMPL
Kirsten Anker, McGill Legislation professor and Vice-President, AMPL