A possible Teaching Assistants Association strike could include a short-term walk-out and a grade strike that could withhold student grades and possibly interfere with graduation, according to TAA Co-President Boian Popunkiov.
TAA members met last week to discuss the possibility of these measures in response to disputes with the state over salary and health care benefits.
Popunkiov said a short term walk-out and an indefinite strike would involve the withholding of TA services. This would mean an end of discussions, grading, office hours and lecture attendance.
\We discussed several options in terms of strikes. Essentially they were all variations of walk-outs and withholding grades with various situations and severity,"" Popunkiov said.
During a possible grade strike, Popunkiov said undergraduate students could foresee a postponement of grades and possibly graduation. He said in past strikes, TAs have given all As or Cs to students, had students decide their own grade or not given a grade at all.
""We envision that a grade strike would entail not turning in grades. Ultimately final grades would be postponed on the transcript until a resolution would be made,"" Popunkiov said. ""We are trying to find other possibilities in terms of graduation, but we are still planning.""
While the TAA plans for upcoming strikes, UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear said the university is not preparing for a strike. He said university officials are hopeful the TAA will not strike and will obtain a resolution for the contract because the strike would negatively affect undergraduates.
""A grade strike would be very unfortunate in that it would penalize the undergraduate students by not getting their grades when they are really not involved in the dispute at all,"" he said. ""I think it would be unfortunate if some action put the education or graduation of students in jeopardy.""
However, Spear said it is doubtful that a grade action by the TAA would delay graduation of students.
In preparation for a possible grade strike, the TAA will gather petition signatures this week from TAA members to decide the next step toward a strike.
""We're thinking of alternative options and are currently in the process of collecting signatures for a petition. I'd say close to 90 percent of our members are on board with action of some sort,"" said Tina Chang, co-president of the TAA.
