You are not forced to only do this type of work... find a normal job like everyone else who has to support themselves in the real world, or like other students do. You don't work at a McDonald's restaurant and expect a pension package... or look at the people working in hire positions there and say it's not fair that you're not compensated the same way because you think do way more work flipping burgers.

Full-time faculty have the education, have put in years of hard work, paid their dues (so to speak) and have earned the right to earn what they do, and receive the benefits they do. If you don't like the way that works, perhaps you should get your heads out of your butts and look around at the rest of the world... you are not some special group of people that deserve to be treated differently. Find a job elsewhere if you're not happy, but don't make ridiculous demands that affect everyone else! You are only looking out for yourselves and it is affecting many people around you in the process. Industries and people who earn a living based on students and faculty actually being able to conduct business as usual are being affected... students are being put out of time (vacation time between terms will probably now be lost) and money (if the school year is extended, students will either miss out on getting jobs because students from other universities will take those jobs because they are still stuck in classes, or if they do find a job, will lose the income for the number of weeks the year is extended). Plus, where do you think the university is going to make it's money back up from if CUPE 3903's ludicrous demands are actually to be met? From the other students of course!! It will most likely mean higher tuition or other fees to make up the difference!

So stop trying to get a free ride, and acting like spoiled children. Open your eyes and ask yourselves why you are not getting public support from anybody if your cause makes as much sense as you think it does. I'm a "mature" student at york (age 30), and have had to go back to school to make a better living for myself. This strike is very unnecessary and , and you need to learn the true meaning of "paying your dues" and where the phrase comes from!!! It does not mean paying money to a union so you can get things you think you deserve, when you don't.... it means working hard, being a productive member of society, and then being rewarded for that hard work. You don't just show up wet behind the ears, and expect the world to be handed to you. Everyone on the outside looking in can see that you're expecting the world when you don't deserve it, but unfortunately when you look at yourselves, you can't even comprehend that you're actually being this way.

P.S. Why would you drive back and forth between Waterloo and Toronto to "make ends meet"?? FIND ANOTHER JOB THAT IS CLOSER!! Why would you waste so much time driving, and waste all the money you've then earned on gas or other means of transport for such a long commute?!?!? Sorry, but I can't feel sorry for you on that one... makes me laugh. If you actually knew what trying to make ends meet meant, then you would probably be taking the bus or walking to multiple part time jobs close to where you live. Again, sounds like you're very spoiled, but don't even have a clue.