College unions are important to the upper ed mission. They usually’re below menace.

To the editors,

Unions are important to constructing robust, cohesive universities the place analysis and important thought thrive as a result of professors and college students are safe and guarded. Whereas negotiations are typically strained, they lead to larger consensus, enabling universities to meet their function of enhancing and transmitting information for generations to return.

Extra not too long ago, nevertheless, prolonged strikes, protracted negotiations, and anti-union conduct have grow to be more and more widespread not solely in the USA however on the campus of McGill College in Canada. College directors at McGill are preventing tooth and nail to kill all college unions, together with its first, the Affiliation of McGill Professors of Regulation.

There are numerous parallels between the Boston College Graduate Employees Union scenario and that of the Affiliation of McGill Professors of Regulation. Each got here into existence in late 2022, each suffered from foot-dragging bargaining by the college, and in each circumstances, administration retaliated in opposition to union members for union actions.

The variations are simply as placing. McGill is in Quebec, essentially the most labor-friendly jurisdiction in North America the place unionization and anti-scab laws is the norm. It’s thus all of the extra shocking that McGill is deploying the worst non-public sector ways developed by Walmart, Amazon, and Starbucks in opposition to its college unions.

McGill says it has a dedication to educational freedom, integrity, accountability, fairness and inclusiveness, but seeks to disclaim teachers the liberty of choosing their very own union. College unions are an indication of engagement and dedication, and a name for partnership. It’s time for Boston U, McGill and better schooling extra typically to heed that decision.

Sincerely

Evan Fox-Respectable, McGill Regulation professor and President, AMPL

Kirsten Anker, McGill Regulation professor and Vice-President, AMPL