Strike deadline looms at York University for contract professors, TA's and RA's

Help get a deal! Write to the York University President to tell him to negotiate a fair collective agreement.

Toronto (11 April 2012) - York University and Glendon College teaching assistants, graduate research assistants and contract professors are poised to go on strike on April 12 unless progress can be made at the bargaining table. Members of the Canadadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3903 have been neogtiating since November in an attempt to reach a new collective agreement.

York University management has refused to seriously negotiate several of the union's priority issues. Some of the outstanding issues are:

• ensuring research money is not clawed back due to any wage increases reached in bargaining;
• tuition rebates for graduate students no longer taking classes but completing studies;
• a minumum funding package for graduate research assistants similar to what teaching assistants receive; and
• the continuation of appointments for contract faculty (i.e. renewable three year, three course contract for long service faculty, restorations of tenure-track promotions and a minimum work entitlement for those with two years teaching experience at York).

The bargaining unit has received a substantial strike mandate but would prefer to get back to serious negotiations and reach a new agreement. During the last round of negotiations, the bargaining unit was locked out for nearly three months and legislated back to work.

Members of the public are urged to write to the York University President to tell his administration to negotiate fairly with these workers.

More information:

CUPE 3903

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE