UW Strike Report
Classes are back to normal today after the TAA's two-day strike, during which several hundred TA's, PA's and their supporters picketed 10 campus buildings. (I suspect media reports of 18 locations referred to multiple building entrances.) The Daily Cardinal reports the strike as a popular success. The Wisconsin State Journal, which had earlier published this rant, has the headline "Teaching Assistants Make Point Politely" for a story about the rally at the capitol. Here was their story from yesterday, focusing on students caught in the middle but still coming across favorably after the opening paragraphs. Madison's other newspaper, the Capital Times, focused on undergraduates who supported the strike. The Badger Herald also profiles a student caught in the middle.
From personal observations: Despite what the above article say, the picket lines could have been really porous had people wanted them to be. I decided to join the Vilas Hall picket line (whether more from commitment or curiosity remains clouded), and at no point did we cover both front entrances. The loading dock entrance was also picketed, but the building was still accessible from the entrance on the other side. Helen C. White Hall was easily cut off, but Social Science had only the front entrances picketed, while Humanities seemed accessible by climbing the stairs by the art museum and entering on the open third floor. Amazingly, even the administration building was completely open at entrance opposite Ingraham Hall. Whether this was true all the time or just when I was there is difficult to say.
When I went to Picket Central to explain my need to work to meet a federal grant deadline, they had no problems with it, and I was easily waved across the picket line. Most of the stories of harassment I've heared are mainly people objecting to the "don't cross the line" chants. This is simply a part of striking the debate over which doesn't belong here, and unless people were being directly intimidated in some fashion I have trouble worrying too much over it. I sympathize with undergraduates caught in the middle, but believe this constitutes the sort of situation many will have to deal with in the real world, and its probably better to develop a sense of how you will deal with it in college than in a company where two of your supervisors are feuding.
Here is a list of 16 departments whose faculty voted to support the TAA. The final number I heard was 23, though it is unclear whether this was support for the strike or just the bargaining position. The Teamsters also refused to cross picket lines, while many other groups provided at least moral support. I think, however, one must also take note of the disgusted looks many had as they walked past. I still have reservations about whether "Free Health Care" by itself is a slogan which will win much popular support. "Free Health Care or Market Wages" would have worked better, despite the extra words. I have my doubts about whether the former will happen, but based on the OSER director's comments in the Daily Cardinal story, movement on the latter remains possible.
Many are now concerned about the looming grade strike. My prediction is that it won't happen, if for no other reason that the fact it had even less support than this strike did at the moment people voted to go through with it, and the vote over this strike was close. However, if the state decides to retaliate against the TAA by seriously worsening their offer, all bets are off. This is partly why I've sort of settled on the idea that we should have given the now-fruitful negotiations more time, but we'll see what happens. The rhetoric from the people who matter sounds constructive.
From personal observations: Despite what the above article say, the picket lines could have been really porous had people wanted them to be. I decided to join the Vilas Hall picket line (whether more from commitment or curiosity remains clouded), and at no point did we cover both front entrances. The loading dock entrance was also picketed, but the building was still accessible from the entrance on the other side. Helen C. White Hall was easily cut off, but Social Science had only the front entrances picketed, while Humanities seemed accessible by climbing the stairs by the art museum and entering on the open third floor. Amazingly, even the administration building was completely open at entrance opposite Ingraham Hall. Whether this was true all the time or just when I was there is difficult to say.
When I went to Picket Central to explain my need to work to meet a federal grant deadline, they had no problems with it, and I was easily waved across the picket line. Most of the stories of harassment I've heared are mainly people objecting to the "don't cross the line" chants. This is simply a part of striking the debate over which doesn't belong here, and unless people were being directly intimidated in some fashion I have trouble worrying too much over it. I sympathize with undergraduates caught in the middle, but believe this constitutes the sort of situation many will have to deal with in the real world, and its probably better to develop a sense of how you will deal with it in college than in a company where two of your supervisors are feuding.
Here is a list of 16 departments whose faculty voted to support the TAA. The final number I heard was 23, though it is unclear whether this was support for the strike or just the bargaining position. The Teamsters also refused to cross picket lines, while many other groups provided at least moral support. I think, however, one must also take note of the disgusted looks many had as they walked past. I still have reservations about whether "Free Health Care" by itself is a slogan which will win much popular support. "Free Health Care or Market Wages" would have worked better, despite the extra words. I have my doubts about whether the former will happen, but based on the OSER director's comments in the Daily Cardinal story, movement on the latter remains possible.
Many are now concerned about the looming grade strike. My prediction is that it won't happen, if for no other reason that the fact it had even less support than this strike did at the moment people voted to go through with it, and the vote over this strike was close. However, if the state decides to retaliate against the TAA by seriously worsening their offer, all bets are off. This is partly why I've sort of settled on the idea that we should have given the now-fruitful negotiations more time, but we'll see what happens. The rhetoric from the people who matter sounds constructive.
posted by Brian Ulrich at
11:01 AM
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