Book & Media Studies Student Association (B.M.S.S.A.)
Letter of Support to the University of St. Michael’s College Faculty
February 7, 2018
The Book & Media Studies Student Association (B.M.S.S.A.) is a Faculty of Arts & Science course union that represents students enrolled within the Book & Media Studies program. There are over 500 students enrolled in the program and its courses, accounting for the largest number of students enrolled in a University of St. Michael’s College (U.S.M.C.)-based program.
We have been made aware that the University of Toronto Faculty Association’s faculty and librarians at the U.S.M.C. have been negotiating for a fair, justified renewal of their collective agreement since Spring 2017. From then until the present, there have been no successful advancements made, and the B.M.S.S.A. Executive are concerned by the prospect of a strike from the rejected proposals. We firmly stand with the faculty and librarians of the U.S.M.C., and urge the administration to negotiate a fair collective agreement.
In particular, the rejection of an equitable statement consistent with the University of Toronto on the U.S.M.C. employment listings as well as equity training concerns us deeply. Book & Media Studies students, as well as other groups within the U.S.M.C. represent a diverse range of racial identities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religious faiths. The B.M.S.S.A. believes that everyone, regardless of their identity, must receive the same right to feel welcome at the U.S.M.C. We believe that the administration has not made this explicitly clear, and is not committing to equity and diversity in the workplace and in the college itself.
Additionally, the rejection of proper job security and fair compensation for the U.S.M.C. faculty and librarians is another area of concern. These faculty members deserve to be secure and comfortable in their positions, while also being treated equitably and with fairness.
We strongly urge the U.S.M.C. administration to negotiate a fair collective agreement in order to avoid a strike. This situation is incredibly troubling for the students, faculty, and the librarians of this college.
If questions arise, please contact Liana Ramos, Book & Media Studies Student Association (B.M.S.S.A.) President, at bookandmedia@utoronto.ca.
Sincerely,
The Book & Media Studies Student Association (B.M.S.S.A) Executive:
Liana Ramos, President
Kendra Spencer-Cole, Vice-President
Victoria Yang, Treasurer
Amelia Leung, Secretary
Junyi Wang, Event Coordinator
Jessica Turner, Media Director
Debbie Zalamea, Graphic Designer
Celeste Yim, Editor-in-Chief of The Foolscap
Daniel Dong, Second Year Representative
Katy Czajkowski, Third Year Representative
Stephanie Ng, Fourth Year Representative