Part-time Students for In-house Workers
LETTER OF SUPPORT TO CUPE 3261
On behalf of the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students (APUS) at the University of Toronto, which represents the thousands of part-time University of Toronto students, we wish to express our solidarity and support for CUPE 3261’s principled efforts to continue to advocate for Good Jobs at UofT.
We know and we appreciate that your efforts to promote Good Jobs at UofT benefits us all.
We know that when you advocate to end contracting out, you are also taking a stand for students – as current and future workers. We know that when you advocate to end contracting out, you are taking a stand for students – access to clean and safe learning spaces. We know that when you advocate to end contracting out, you are taking a stand for students – promoting dignity for all on our campuses. Thank you for all the invisible work you do to keep UofT operational – and we join you in making the issues of good jobs visible.
We are saddened to see the Employer countering CUPE 3261’s asks.
UofT’s push towards for-profit services compromises results in lower-quality services and increased poverty.
It is workers that help UofT achieve its global and public high rankings and high standings.
To continue to sustain this campus, the University must sustain its people.
It is workers that maintained our spaces through a pandemic.
The University must now make space for those voices at the table.
To our University, we applaud your 2016 decision to in-source food services at the St. George campus. That choice was an indicator that UofT was ready and willing to back the UofT community, with dignity.
We urge you to continue to make good choices for good jobs.
We look to the University of Toronto to continue to bargain and meet the needs of Good Jobs at UofT.
It is as a University that you can avoid a strike or lockout.
To CUPE 3261 as caretakers, cafeteria workers, maintenance workers, landscapers, campus movers, campus mail workers…and all as workers who support teaching and research at UofT – we, the part-time students, THANK YOU.
Your working conditions are our learning conditions.
Students and Workers United.
Signed,
The Executive of the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students
Vice-President External, Shanti Dhoré vpexternal@apus.ca