FrançaisThe University is intending to double and even triple the class sizes for the online summer courses. In the past two days, different departments have emailed Course Lecturers informing them that the University will increase class sizes by up to three times. The departments are asking employees to respond by Monday noon.
The Union has supported and cooperated with the University in the best possible manner so that the COVID-19 crisis does not impact delivery of courses and negatively affect students from receiving their education. Most of our members, who have been teaching during COVID-19, have had to quickly transition from in-class to online, involving an enormous amount of work and extra hours without any extra compensation. All this while dealing with isolation, extra stress and possibly taking care of family at home.
This cooperation of the Union and our members, however, is not being respected. Instead, the University seems to be using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse towards severe violation of our work conditions by increasing class caps by three times and increasing workload on Course Lecturers.
The Union strongly condemns this move by the Employer, which clearly and significantly violates Members’ rights. In some cases, it proposed to raise class caps from 45 to as many as 150 students. The Union asks its Members to refuse such requests of the Employer and respect their original contracts with the regular class sizes. Please ensure that your class size is as per your contract and is as it has been historically.
We are calling upon the Employer to address greater student demands for courses this summer with more sections and not larger class sizes. If the Employer imposes increased cap sizes, please contact the Union immediately and we will advise you on the next course of action.
Lastly, and most importantly, please keep safe.
MCLIU Executive
