We Deserve More, We Deserve Answers

In the midst of the York University and CUPE 3903 Strike at York University, nursing students emotions, and patiences are beginning to run thin. Although many other programs are feeling the 'heat' as well, the Fourth Year Collaborative BScN students are asking for more from their Faculty and Professors. We are asking for answers to questions which they have had six weeks to find. When paying $3,500, we expect certain things from the Institution, and so far, we have been nothing short of disappointed.

This letter was written by a fourth-year Collaborative student who is demanding more, and demanding fair treatment of remediation options, as well as consideration of us as more than students... but consideration of us as the PEOPLE we are, whether it is a mother, father, wife, husband, child etc. We deserve MORE, and we deserve ANSWERS

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a fourth-year student at York University in the Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. I am reaching out on behalf of myself, and my large group of dedicated peers in regards to the ongoing labor disruption at York, and the negative impact it has had on our lives, and our education.

We have been facing a six-week long strike that has impacted our final and most crucial semester. We are required as nursing students, to complete an Integrated Practicum placement during the eighth semester of our program. During this placement, we apply theory to practice for an entire semester. We are required to complete a specified number of hours as instructed by the School of Nursing (S.O.N) at York University; this number was originally 432 hours.

However, following a six-week-long strike with still no end in sight, most of us held out hope that this number would be adjusted accordingly prior to applying any “assessed grade” option (wherein you are graded based on 70% or 50-60% of the course work, or in this case, hours).

Despite our high hopes, we received an email this afternoon informing us that we are indeed expected to have completed 70% of the original 432 hours. We were not given any instructions about what is expected if you do NOT have 70% of these hours (302 hours). By instructions, I mean that we were not told what our remediation options would include, or whether or not we would have to extend our semester beyond May 1st. We are requesting that the S.O.N adjust the 432 to a reasonable number that reflects the ongoing labor disruption at York that has left most of us feeling helpless and anxious.

We need the assistance of the media and other officials in order to make a public statement that will be heard by S.O.N officials. We are nursing students, but we are also mothers, wives, Registered Practical Nurses, PSW’s, children, etc. Our lives have already been put on hold and some of us cannot mentally, financially, or physically deal with having to return to York or our clinical agencies for remediation. Furthermore, the agencies in which we were placed will be accommodating summer semester students from other educational institutions (Georgian College, Ryerson, etc.) and from what we understand, most of our preceptors who were teaching us prior to the strike will no longer be available to take us on as students, creating yet another barrier to our success.

This may impact our graduation, our ability to write the NCLEX (registration exam), and any/all potential employment opportunities, including New Graduate Initiatives. We are asking the S.O.N to provide a realistic and more considerate option to its fourth-year, final semester students, who have worked far too long and too hard to be told that it is not enough. We were not in control of a labor disruption; nor should we suffer because of it.

Sincerely,

(HOPEFULLY) Future Nurses of Ontario

Dear Kathleen Wynne

Dear Kathleen Wynne,

I am a fourth year Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student studying at York University who is caught in the cross fire of the CUPE strike, which began March 5th, 2018. I am writing a letter to address concerns surrounding the strike and the impact it has on the students who are often times forgotten during times like these. In this letter, I will address the top three major concerns which have been raised by students, particularly other BScN students about the current strike.

The first concern the students have is surrounding the impact the strike has on our future. We are currently finishing our final nursing placement which consists of working 40-hour work weeks alongside a nursing mentor. This is the final compulsory component to the BScN course, which is an eight-semester degree program. The strike by CUPE 3903 members has put a hault to our education and forced us to cease attending clinical. This affects graduating on time, puts potential job offers in jeopardy and impedes on our livelihood. We have not received any word from professors on what the strike outcome could mean for us, the students, and how it could impact our futures which is leaving students with much anxiety.

The second concern that I have surrounds the ability of the faculty to strike. I understand that unions have the legal and ethical right to strike, but we just saw a five-week strike from the college faculty which resulted in many students experiencing negative consequences related to depleted finances, mental health impacts and withdrawing from courses because they were simply unable to weather the 'storm' that the faculty unleashed. These negative impacts hurt the students more than anyone, but the students are the ones who pay for their educational advancements. To put this into perspective, as a future nurse I am considered "essential" (hospital and nursing home nurses to be specific), which eliminates my ability to strike. If a nurse decides to strike he/she can receive criminal disciplinary action for taking such measures. On the other hand, as students we pay for a service, which comes with a heavy price tag, when the service is revoked such as in a strike, we are the ones left in limbo with no supports financially or emotionally. Revoking this service leaves us at a deficit, as well as delays us from becoming working citizens, contributing to advancements of the province.

Finally, my third concern surrounds the overall ignorance of the student perspective during any strike, not just this one. During a strike, it is without a doubt no one but the students who lose. We lose education time, we lose job opportunities, we lose money, and for many, we lose faith in why we chose higher education in the first place. A strike does no favours to any of the parties involved, yet the striking party claims that they are striking for the benefits of the students. Throughout the many strikes college and university students have endured not once have I heard a student say, "that strike was worth it and my educational experience has been enhanced." Precious educational time and experience which is lost in a strike, disengages students as well as negatively impacts the education that is delivered after the strike. The College Faculty lost five weeks of study, which is a lot of classroom time, they then fast tracked students through their programs to finish only one-to-two weeks after the original end date. This depicts the amount of important information that will be lost, and not taught to these students, who, paid for a well-rounded education, putting them at a deficit when entering the work force.

In summary, I believe that provincial action is to be called upon to rectify actions that post-secondary strikes have on the students. The students are often left without a voice in these situations and they are the ones who lose every time. Without a voice, and no grounds to make a movement, we sit in the cross-fire and anxiously wait at home for news that could potentially be detrimental to our futures. As the Premier of Ontario, I ask that you become active in the ratification process and urge you to be the voice of the forgotten students.

Sincere Regards,

The Forgotten Students

Post-Secondary Strikes: A Student Perspective

An open letter to striking Faculty,

After four long years of hard work, determination, and perseverance I, as well as many other students alike, was beginning to see the light at the end of the long tunnel that is University. On Thursday March 2nd, 2018 that light was quickly taken away when the Teaching Assistants, Contract Faculty, and Graduate Assistants at York University voted in favour of pursing a strike in hopes to end labour negotiations which began late September of 2017.

The light that seemed so close, is now in limbo as we await more updates surrounding the impending strike. As students, we understand that reaching a fair and appropriate contract is important and necessary for the school to function effectively and for us to receive quality education; BUT, this comes at a large cost to us as students, who are so often forgotten about during a strike.

The typical undergraduate student at York University pays $7, 523 (plus fees) per year for a typical 4-year program, making a total investment of over $30,000 towards improving their future and ability to contribute to society as high functioning adults. When the student enrolls in their program they anticipate a graduation date (e.g. April 2018) and begin to make plans/plan accordingly for future life events. Myself, I have/had an expected graduation date of April 2018 with a job offer starting mid-April in my field of study. Like many students, it’s been a juggling act to balance grades with work so I personally decided to take a break from working while finishing up the last four months of my undergraduate degree. With the impending strike, my graduation and completion date will/can be pushed, and my job offer could be revoked due to the need to fill the position by the employer. The most stressing issue surround this is my ever so declining finances. Paying for school each year is challenging enough, but when you remove summer working months and extend semesters it makes it near impossible for students to afford the cost of living.

Coming to terms with the idea that after four long years of blood, sweat, and many tears my final year may become more chaotic and ‘scrambled’ then my last three, is a difficult and daunting mental task. As demonstrated with the College Strike in the Fall of 2017, students suffered mentally, financially and emotionally, and many withdrew from their programs due to the uncertainty of their futures. This should be an indicator to Faculty of all levels that students truly do suffer the most when a strike occurs.

Although we cannot do anything to stop a strike from happening, as students we can voice our opinions and concerns with hopes that the Faculty remembers why they choose teaching as a career in the first place. Without students, teachers would not have the ability to wake up and do what they love every day. I urge the Faculty to remember this as they stand at their picket line and students sit at home unsettled, uneased and anxious about their futures and possibly missing out on the opportunity to one day wake up and do what they love everyday as well.

I ask the Faculty to be mindful of our futures, and hope that they make the best decision with our well-beings in mind.

Sincerely,

A stressed out, worried, and defeated University Student