TORONTO—The end is not yet in sight for the 10-week strike at York University as its contract teachers, teaching assistants, and graduate assistants voted “no” to the university’s settlement offer.
With a 69 percent voter turnout and 63 percent who voted against the offer, this was a victory for CUPE 3903 which had encouraged members to reject the offer.
“It was a very clear message,” said CUPE 3903 spokesperson Tyler Shipley, adding that the offer was inadequate and did not meet requirements.
In a move to end the strike which started November 6, York University had appealed to the Ministry of Labour to conduct a supervised vote in order to encourage the striking workers to settle on the offer, which the union had already rejected. The vote was conducted Monday and Tuesday at a Toronto hotel
The offer included a 9.25 percent wage increase over three years and increased health benefits. Job security for the contract faculty remains an issue of contention.
York University expressed its disappointment with the results.
“We made it clear before the vote that we were making a fair, reasonable and comprehensive offer to settle the contract, especially in this worsening economic climate,” said York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri in a press release on the university’s website.
In a special letter mailed to CUPE members, the university urged them to go back to work rather than risk jeopardizing the summer term while appealing to their “special responsibility as educators.”
Now York University is warning that the summer term could be cancelled. However, the university is working to ensure that the fall and winter terms get extended.
Almost 50,000 students have been missing classes, with the strike affecting them both academically and financially. Students requiring grades for graduate school and those planning to graduate this year have been particularly affected. Many have expressed their dissatisfaction on blogs and Facebook groups.
In a notice posted on the CUPE website on Tuesday, the York Federation of Students announced the launch of a Tuition Refund Campaign, which is asking a 12 percent refund for all students who missed classes during the strike.
The strike has not been easy for many CUPE 3903 members either, as wages have been suspended for the duration of the strike. Many have families to support.
In a letter posted on January 17 on the CUPE website, Bob Hanke, a York University contract faculty member in the communications department appealed to other contract faculty (Unit 2 members) urging them not to base their vote on fear, but on their rights as “dedicated teachers,” arguing that to settle on the university’s offer would be to “be on strike for nothing.”
“Our Unit 2 proposals are a reasonable compromise and it is neither selfish nor irresponsible to ask for compensation that better reflects our contribution to York’s academic mission,” said Hanke.
Union spokesperson Tyler Shipley told The Epoch Times that CUPE 3903 is ready to negotiate. However it has not heard back from the university yet.
The university is standing by its offer.
“This is our offer for settlement. Now it is up to the Union and its members to reconsider their demands and step back from the brink,” said President Shoukri.
The Union however is hopeful.
“All it takes is for us to have a partner at the bargaining table,” said Shipley adding that they are not asking for anything unreasonable.
With additional reporting by Matthew Little
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