[Fdu] Negotiation - not arbitration - key to resolving York University Strike, says CUPE 3903

[Cynthia Wright]

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/negotiation---not-arbitration---key-to-resolving-york-university-strike-says-cupe-3903-681780951.html


  Negotiation - not arbitration - key to resolving York University
  Strike, says CUPE 3903

TORONTO, May 4, 2018 /CNW/ - The path to resolving a nine-week labour 
dispute at York University requires negotiation, not arbitration, the 
union representing 3,000 striking academic workers said today.

"We reiterate the call we have repeatedly made over the past eight weeks 
for York University to stop cutting corners and come to the table with a 
willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations," said Devin Lefebvre, 
Chairperson of Local 3903 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees 
(CUPE 3903).

Lefebvre's comments came on the heels of a report and recommendations 
submitted today to Labour Minister Kevin Flynn by Commissioner William 
Kaplan. Last month, the Minister tasked Commissioner Kaplan with 
investigating the causes of the protracted strike and make 
recommendations to the Government.

"While we understand the urgency of Commissioner Kaplan's 
recommendations, we have grave concerns about the manner in which York 
has conducted themselves. Since the strike began in early March, York 
has repeatedly refused our requests to resume bargaining. Commissioner 
Kaplan's report effectively gives York and any other employer free rein 
to ignore their obligations to bargain in good faith," said Lefebvre.

"There are elements of this report that are worthy of support and long 
overdue. We welcome Commissioner Kaplan's recommendation to establish a 
task force on precarious employment in the post-secondary education 
sector and call on the government to implement this recommendation with 
all due haste. However, we cannot in good conscience agree to surrender 
our members' constitutionally-guaranteed right to bargain collectively," 
he added.

Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario, said the lengthy dispute 
represents, "a failure on the part of York University to live up to its 
basic obligations to bargain in good faith, and a failure on the 
Government's part to ensure that institutions that receive substantial 
amounts of public money live up to those obligations."

"York has repeatedly refused to sit down and negotiate. They continue to 
demand that CUPE 3903 agree to concessions and the Government risks 
rewarding their bad behaviour by expecting workers to surrender their 
Charter right to free collective bargaining. No one should be expected 
to do that, particularly when so many university workers across Ontario 
live at or below the poverty line," said Hahn.

CUPE 3903's bargaining team remains available to resume bargaining on 
short notice, as they have since the strike began.

"At this time, four faculty councils, three department councils, 13 
graduate and undergraduate student associations, and the York University 
Graduate Student Association have all passed motions of non-confidence 
in President Rhonda Lenton and the York Board of Governors, in large 
part due to their refusal to bargain. The York University Faculty 
Association has expressed its own 'deep concerns' for the same reasons. 
For the sake of the summer terms, for students and for York's own 
reputation, we hope York will do the right thing and bargain with its 
employees," said Lefebvre.

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

For further information: Julian Arend, CUPE 3903 Spokesperson, ; Kevin 
Wilson, CUPE Communications,


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