On Wednesday, members of the Trans Feminist Action Caucus joined picket at York’s southern campus, Glendon College for a special conversation to address key equity issues both within our union and in our strike demands. While walking the “small but mighty” Glendon line, members spoke about their experiences during the strike, and about the major equity concerns that are embedded within our bargaining demands.

On this beautiful afternoon, 3903 Equity Officer Sheila Wilmot was also present , and spoke to several picketers throughout the day. TFAC is one of many groups working to ensure equitable treatment of all 3903 members, and one of the ways to do this is to raise the point that many of our central bargaining issues have equity issues at their heart.

In particular, Unit Two members have tried to convey the fact that the continued casualization of university labour disproportionately affects women, racialized groups, people with disabilities, single parents and other vulnerable members of our union and our wider York community. 3903’s call for job security in the form of SRCs and for the continuation of the conversion program is a call to improve the working conditions of these groups, who make up the majority of Contract Faculty at York. It is also a call to the administration that 3903 will not accept a contract that continues to devalue the labour of our members, that heightens the precariousness of work for disadvantaged groups, and deteriorates the learning conditions of our students by refusing to support our work as educators.

Given the warm reception by Glendon gate on Wednesday, TFAC hopes that members will continue to have these important conversations amongst ourselves, with the administration, and with the public.