Statement of Support

As faculty in the department of Philosophy, we would like to voice our strong support for our teaching assistants and associates. Our support is based on the recognition of graduate students as foundational to the department’s research and teaching mission. We all benefit when graduate students are paid a living wage. We are concerned about economic insecurity among our graduate students. Salaries have failed to keep pace with inflation and rising rents in our area.

We affirm the right of student workers to engage in lawful strike activity, which may include picketing, cancellation of sections, or stopping grading. We will not engage in retaliation against graduate students based on their participation or non-participation in strike activities in all matters under our direct control. We will not inquire about the strike status of any graduate student under our direct supervision, nor interrupt  our teaching and mentoring of graduate students regardless of their position on the strike. We urge the university to take all measures to protect international students and we will ourselves take all measures in our power to protect our international students. We will respond to undergraduate concerns about the disruption of their education with compassion while affirming the right of the graduate students to  strike for better wages. We support the teaching assistants and associates in their current negotiations and encourage the university to work towards a fair and practicable solution.