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