[Fdu] Academic workers reject York University's final offer: strike may come Monday

[Cynthia Wright]

  Academic workers reject York University's ''final offer'' - CUPE 3903
  to commence strike action Monday

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News provided by

*Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)* 
<https://www.newswire.ca/news/canadian-union-of-public-employees-cupe>

17:52 ET

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  * <https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/academic-workers-reject-york-universitys-final-offer---cupe-3903-to-commence-strike-action-monday-675697933.html#>
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TORONTO, March 2, 2018 /CNW/ - Teaching assistants, graduate assistants 
and part-time faculty at York University, members of Local 3903 of the 
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 3903), will commence strike 
action Monday morning, after overwhelmingly rejecting their employer's 
final offer.

At a special membership meeting, members of all three CUPE 3903 units in 
bargaining with York University voted against sending York's 'final 
offer' to a ratification vote. That means barring any efforts to resolve 
the dispute over the weekend, strike action will commence at 12:01 a.m. 
Monday morning.

"Our members have loudly and clearly given York University 
Administration the same message we have been telling for months—namely 
that the positions they were advancing at the bargaining table were 
unacceptable," said Devin Lefebvre, chair of CUPE 3903.

"York could have listened to what we've been telling them and actually 
negotiated. Instead, they chose to hold to positions they knew were 
unacceptable to the bargaining committee and the membership," he added.

Within four separate units, CUPE 3903 represents nearly 3,000 contract 
faculty, teaching assistants, graduate assistants and research 
assistants at York University. Units 1, 2 and 3 have been attempting to 
negotiate a fair collective agreement with York for several months.

"We are deeply concerned that the administration insists that it will be 
'business as usual' and will not be cancelling classes. Administration 
needs to be honest with students—our members are responsible for 
delivering 60 per cent of the course work on campus, and it will not be 
business as usual Monday if our members are forced to take strike 
action," said Lefebvre.

He added that the Union's bargaining committee will make itself 
available for negotiations over the weekend, in an effort to resolve the 
dispute ahead of Monday's deadline.

"The weekend offers both parties one last opportunity to reach a 
settlement everyone can live with. We are ready to negotiate, but we 
need a willing partner across the table," said Lefebvre.

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

For further information: Lina Nasr: CUPE 3903 Bargaining Committee 
spokesperson, lina.nasr.elhag at gmail.com; Kevin Wilson, CUPE 
Communications, 416-821-6641


        Related Links

http://www.cupe.ca


      Organization Profile

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 
<https://www.newswire.ca/news/canadian-union-of-public-employees-cupe>



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