I understand that the Faculty Association at St FX has gone on strike, and I
wish to communicate that many of my colleagues and myself share their view that
their struggle is for equitable employment arrangements and social justice for
all Faculty.  This is a broad struggle in Canada and globally.

———————————————————

From: David Toews
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 1:36 PM
To: [email protected]; stfxaut – Distribution List
Subject: a personal communication re. the Faculty strike

[FYI – I sent the following message to President Riley this morning.  I wish you
all the best in your strike.  I was at Windsor a few years ago when we went on
strike.  It was a successful job action because we made a specific effort to
have good solidarity with students as well as among ourselves, and I know that
as long as you have such solidarity you will prevail.  All the best, David
Toews]

Dear President Riley,

I understand that the Faculty Association at St FX has gone on strike, and I
wish to communicate that many of my colleagues and myself share their view that
their struggle is for equitable employment arrangements and social justice for
all Faculty.  This is a broad struggle in Canada and globally.

I am a contractually-limited appointment and I teach sociological theory at York
University where the theme of precarious social life is a regular topic.  I am
always saddened to have to tell my students that not only are we talking about
workers and/or migrants who don’t have stable employment ‘out there’ in society
but that I myself, standing right in front of them, am a part of the precarious
workforce.  It is embarrassing and untenable that academic workers should be
subjected to unfair labour conditions, particularly as Universities should be
held to a higher standard and be a model for future society.

I urge you to realize this broader social problem and to join in efforts to
reverse it and make our Universities a safe and secure place to work and teach.
I trust that you will realize soon enough, if not already, that negotiating in
good faith with your Faculty Association has to be the first step.

I thank you sincerely for your time.

Yours truly,
Dr. David Toews
—
Dr. David Toews, PhD
Assistant Professor
Sociology Department
York University
Toronto, Ontario