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Opinion: Students
for UNBCFA

James Mangan
Team Member

he UNBC Faculty Association’s job-action

may be an inconvenience to university
students, but that does not excuse said
students from meeting certain expectations.
The first expectation is that students will
refrain from panicking. Precedence is on
their side. Secondly, students should be
expected to respect the picket line. Teachers
already feel disrespected by the university’s
administration, and they do not need the
thoughtless actions of apathetic students as
an additional challenge.

There are rumours that students could
potentially lose this current semester if the
job-action lasts too long. This has not been
the case in any province that has experienced
a strike among university faculty. Also, such
a loss would not be in the professor’s best
interests. The point of a strike is to gain
public support, not diminish it. Students
are treated as a “bargaining chip” not as a
result of their pursuit of degrees, but as a
result of their willingness to spend money

at the university. It is in the professors’
best interest to see their students’ progress
in their post-secondary education once
this job-action has been concluded.

In the most extreme scenario, students can
begin to discuss financial reimbursement.
However, it is not a good idea to dwell

on such a scenario so early in the strike.
Such considerations distract students

from the discussions that need to

be held immediately, such as how to
properly handle the picket line.

Regardless of whether the student sides
with the administration or with the Faculty
Association (or neither), there needs to

be a level of respect for the picket line.
Like any job action across all fields of
employment, the picket line is a powerful
sign of strength, unity, and public support
for a striking organization. It is also an
inconvenience for those who ordinarily
use the facilities operated by a striking
organization, as is the nature of job action.
Unfortunately, this demonstration is
necessary since a strike is meaningless,

even ridiculed, without leverage.

Since Thursday, March 5, our professors and
friends have been demonstrating outside
UNBC’s various facilities throughout Prince
George in order to gain public support.
They have withstood cold weather and,
unfortunately, inconsiderate drivers in
order to hear the occasional “honk” of
support from a passing vehicle. They do

so because they believe that they are not
being respected by their employer.This lack
of respect is not invisible to students. One
would have to be purposefully ignorant to
not know that its UNBC’s 25th anniversary
based on all the flags and merchandise being
produced. The University was also able to
afford a costly renovation to the Dining
Hall, the popularity of which rivals that of
bedbugs. However, a fair wage increase for
professors is somehow out of the question.

Recognizing this lack of respect should be
enough to refrain from crossing the picket
line, regardless of whether or not one
supports the Faculty Association. Of course
there are exceptions, such as students

Maryna Dakhno)||OTE

who reside on campus or individuals

who have medical appointments at the
Northern Sports Centre. The UNBC Faculty
Association recognizes these exceptions.
If you need to cross the picket line, rest
assured that the Faculty Association
members will simply want to have a brief
discussion before allowing you to cross.

Finally, students have the obligation to
stay actively informed with both sides of
the dispute. The UNBC Faculty Association
and the UNBC Administration are both
updating regularly, and both have a
history of negotiations available online.

These are only the bare minimum
expectations for students. Even satisfying
the bare minimum of expectations during
this strike proves to professors that students
respect the positions of the professors.
Professors already have to deal with
disrespectful priorities from the university
administration, as well as the provincial
government. They do not need the same
sentiment coming from their students.