Somewhere, in the deep wilderness of North York...
...three postdoctoral fellows are barely making rent...
arav,
Jason
,
em & ily !
I don’t know how to tell you guys... but, I got that job in Ottawa.
What do you mean, you don’t know how to tell us? That’s great news, buddy! Congratulations!
Thanks, I guess. I wish I could stay on my postdoc, but I can’t afford to live in the city anymore. I’m starting out at $70,000 at Parks.
How did you manage that?
Fourteen years of French immersion and a friend in the office I applied to...
That’s the secret, is it? Maybe I’ll have to date a French guy...
Awww, Jason, we’re really going to miss you!
I know. I’m doing battle with a bit of survivor’s guilt about it. I did it... I got out!
Good luck finding one in Toronto!
Not to mention your share of the rent rent...
It’s not that bad. At least not for us. It might take a while...
...kidding!
...but we’ll find tenuretrack jobs eventually.
...We hope.
I’m sure you’ll find something...
ah, geez, look at the time!
We need to get out of here.
!" *ding!* closing w o n e r rs a "the doo
You know, in spite of everything, I’m always so excited to get back to the lab on Monday mornings.
Me too. We’re doing it for the research, right?
We’re certainly not doing it for the pay!
ha
ha HAhaha ! !
a! h a h
...I’ll miss the research. But I’m not going to miss how lonely it is being the only one in the office.
Imagine! You’ll be able to afford brand name cereal. I’d like to think they won’t be able to find someone to take my place doing the same work as my supervisor for the pay, but that’s probably too optimistic.
Don’t worry about us, you’re ascending from this hell! It doesn’t sound like you needed your supervisor’s recommendation to get this job, either.
I asked for it, but he was too busy.
I hear in the government, when you want to go for a conference, they cover your expenses!
Th-that’s right.
I was looking at one of those government jobs. Paid professional development training, reliable health benefits, job security… you’ve made it, man.
*DING!* "bl oor onge s ta transfer-y to line 2..."tion.
If it’s so great, why don’t you go work in government, Arav?
I’m on a closed work permit.
My status is tied to this job.
In fact, my P.I. has been dragging his feet about extending the contract. He’s just busy with other things... but if he doesn’t do it soon, I’ll have to leave the country.
That must be awful!
Arav, if he’s endangering your visa, you should take that to the union.
If ‘being scattered’ gets you deported, that seems deported pretty serious to me.
Hold on, it’s not that serious. He’s just a little scattered. He’ll get it done eventually.
When you put it that way…
I still don’t see how the union is supposed to help. When we are striking and bargaining, that’s one thing...
My dude, this is exactly what the union is there for. Have you not met our shop steward?
...But if I call up the union with my personal problem, what are they going to say? "Work it out for yourself!"
That’s right! You can see about filing a grievance. One of my labmates did it.
Our what?
And even if you can’t formally grieve it, the union can still talk to him. It’s why they exist.
"st george s tation..."
Everyone I know who filed a grievance had a good experience. But I wish they’d do more about our pay. Our pay isn’t enough to live in Sudbury, never mind Toronto! And no matter what my P.I. says, I always end up putting in unpaid overtime.
It’s terrible, I know. But it would be even worse without a union.
...The overtime! I sat down and worked it out once. When you account for everything, I am making a little less than minimum wage.
Without the union, we wouldn’t have benefits. They’d pay us even less. We’d have no grievance process for workplace conflicts.
Unions are the only protection workers have.
Workers across the continent are standing up for themselves, striking, demanding more. This is the beginning of a new age of social transformation, and labor struggle is at its heart!
That’s why we’re in the middle of a rising wave of strikes and unionization.
If the union is so great, why don’t you go to the meetings?
...They’re the same night as bar trivia.
Hey, speaking of the union... are you guys going to the back-to-work BBQ this year?
I hardly ever see anyone in the labs, so I could use the socialization.
Oh yeah, that’s on Saturday, right. I was thinking about it.
It would be good to talk to someone other than my P.I...!
...But do people really go to this BBQ thing?
I’m going, so yeah! I don’t know. I’m already so busy.
It’s a barbeque!
But what if someone asks me to serve on a committee?
Then say no, if you don’t want to... What about you, Jason?
Saturday? I can’t...
...That’s when my Capital reading group meets.
Honestly, the two of you!
Arav, you should come. I’m sure a steward will be there and you can ask about the thing with your P.I....
I really want to go, but it’s going to be awkward if I’m on my own...
And Jason, I don’t want to hear another word about the “insurgent working class” from a guy who can’t even be bothered to come to a union BBQ!!!
Hey, if nothing else, it’s a free meal, right? I’m in.
I’m glad that’s settled. I’ll see you guys back at the apartment!
You make some good points.
that saturday evening...
Do you think they have veggie burgers...?
Wow, there’s a lot of people here!
Looks like it...!
This is nothing! There are almost 10,000 people in our local.
...There’d be nothing left to eat!
Good thing they didn’t all come...
Hi, I’m Jack. I’m a steward with the local.
So are you all adjuncts, or T.A.'s, or... ?
We’re postdocs.
Oh! uh... what’s a postdoc?
A postdoctoral fellowship is a research position. Some of us pick up other kinds of academic work, like teaching or grading...
...Unfortunately, we’re kind of invisible in the union and the university in general.
I’m so embarrassed. You’re right, absolutely.
Right! of course...
This reminds me that we need to be better about talking between bargaining units.
Does that mean there’s a better steward for me to talk to if I’m having an issue?
I usually work with T.A.'s...
I can connect you to Priya... ...But why don’t you tell me about it, too?
Geez! Can the union help?
Okay, so, basically: I need my P.I. to sign off on extending my contract, or my visa will be canceled and I’ll have to leave the country.
That’s awful.
Yes, definitely.
Just setting up a meeting might do the trick. Probably just hearing from the union will help to motivate your P.I.
...but there are steps we can take beyond that, too.
We can initiate a grievance, if he’s uncooperative.
A grievance!
I don’t know about that. I want to keep things professional.
arav, If he doesn’t sign your contract paperwork, you won’t be able to practice your profession.
...Point.
Listen guys, thanks so much for coming out today. The union is its members! Thanks! But as fun as these BBQ's are, I would love to see you all at an actual union meeting.
Maybe, it depends on when they’re happening…
I don’t know, I’m so busy in the lab…
Come on, you guys, what have you been telling me this entire time?
If we are in the union, we have to be in the union! Why should my P.I. -or anyone elseelse take us seriously if no one comes to meetings? Me too.
...You’re right. i’ll be there.
Yes, there will be snacks.
But … will there be ...snacks? ...snacks
!
h oh yea