A strike could begin as soon as Monday if union members reject York University’s latest offer. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)
Chihiro Miya
All contract faculty, teaching assistants and graduate assistants at York University will walk the picket line on Monday if the administration doesn’t meet their demands for a contract.
They are members of Local 3903 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 3903) and their contract expired on Aug 31, 2017.
After months of bargaining, concessions remain in the employer’s final offer. The Bargaining Team and Executive Committee, therefore, have no choice but to recommend that CUPE 3903 reject the employer’s offer #3903bargaining https://t.co/OF2T0LXskk
— CUPE 3903 (@cupe3903comms) 2018年3月1日
courtesy of CP24
York University said on its website that teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants have the best total compensation package, including a wage increase, childcare funds, subsidies and health benefits.
The university also said, “We think this is a fair offer.”
“We continue to believe that there is no need for a strike,” said York University at the end of statement.
“We have been and continue to be fully committed to reaching a collective agreement and to supporting our contract colleagues to the best of our ability within the constraints that we all operate under at York and in the system.”
However, CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn told CP24, “60 per cent of the classes are instructed by our members, people who are contract faculty and teaching assistants, and this contract would make their jobs more precarious. That would impact education negatively.”
“They have a weekend to deal with this. They need to come to the table, they need to remove their concessions and they need to listen to those people who instruct 60 per cent of the classes.”
The Osgoode Hall Law Union also tweeted in support of CUPE.
“Despite York University’s interim provost Lisa Phillips’ statement that the University will remain open in the event of a strike on Monday, March 5, 2018, no official decision has been made.”
The Osgoode Strike Support Committee fully supports @cupe3903comms in their bargaining with York. If membership rejects the offer tomorrow, we will be on the picket lines. pic.twitter.com/RlQf6z7L9o
— OsgoodeHallLawUnion (@OzHallLawUnion) 2018年3月2日
Rally for a contract deal
Between the censorship of posters, the statement that York will keep classes open during a strike, and most importantly, the lack of movement at the #3903bargaining table, tomorrow’s rally is an opportunity to tell York to stop messing around and bargain! pic.twitter.com/FPKUraCC9M
— CUPE 3903 (@cupe3903comms) 2018年2月27日
The education workers rallied for a fair deal on Feb. 27 with campus and community allies in the York University’s Vari Hall.
If #CUPE3903 goes on strike, it won’t be business as usual @yorkuniversity even if they “try” to keep some classes going. We do 60% of the teaching. Picket lines. Delays. Empty classrooms. Students have a protected right to respect picket lines. #3903bargaining pic.twitter.com/ujHD14ynte
— Murray Cooke (@MurrayCooke10) 2018年2月26日
The negotiations that began since January were ended on Thursday.
With a strike deadline on Mar. 5, CUPE 3903 began voting at 11:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. on Friday.