All Posts Tagged With: "york university strike"
Wente on the challenges facing universities
Are universities a nest of richly subsidized radicals who are overpaid and underworked?
Though the moment is sure to fade away, the recent York University strike brought the challenges of the modern university to the attention of the chattering classes in central Canada — a fleeting benefit of the prolonged and unfortunate experiences of York’s students and workers.
In her column in Saturday’s Globe and Mail, Margaret Wente reminisces about her experiences with higher education, including time spent smoking dope at an unnamed university (likely UofT). Amidst her usual tried-and-tested barrage of insults and name-calling, Wente manages to hit on some of the biggest problems facing our universities at present:
The first problem is that there is no money, especially these days. The second problem is that universities are not terribly popular with the public, who tend to see them as a nest of richly subsidized tenured radicals who are overpaid and underworked. (Unfair, but not entirely.) Taxpayers are only willing to subsidize universities to the extent they believe they contribute to the national wealth. The third problem is that a vast proportion of the student body neither wants nor needs a traditional liberal education anyway. They have no desire to sit at the feet of cloistered masters debating truth and beauty. They are essentially there for the credentials.
Class-action lawsuit filed against York University
Law firm seeks compensation for students, including loss of income and tuition
A Toronto-based law firm has launched a class-action lawsuit against York University on behalf of students seeking reimbursement for damages they say were incurred by a 12-week-strike at the school.
The suit was filed by Juroviesky and Ricci LLP on Jan. 25 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The firm is alleging that York University violated its statutory and common law duties to York students who were left stranded by the prolonged strike.
“Students of York University are entitled to a refund of the students’ tuition and other fees paid to York, and for damages (direct and indirect) for losses suffered by students enrolled in full and part time programs,” said a statement issued by the firm.
In their effort to compile a list of potential plaintiffs, the firm set up the website www.yorktookmymoney.com, which also contains a list of frequently asked questions concerning the lawsuit. It says they are seeking the widest range of damages possible, including loss of income, tuition reimbursement, housing reimbursement for housing and other costs.
Currently, the Facebook group publicizing the suit online has more than 6,500 members.
York University back-to-work bill passes in legislature
End of 12-week strike means 45,000 students will head back to class next week
Back-to-work legislation aimed at ending a 12-week strike at York University has passed in the Ontario legislature.
That means about 45,000 students will be able to return next week to their studies at Canada’s third-largest university.
They’ve been out of class since Nov. 6, when 3,400 teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants walked off the job.
The union backed off its threat to challenge the back-to-work legislation in court late Wednesday and says it won’t stop teachers from returning to class.
Union officials say the students have already paid a heavy a price for the strike so they decided not to fight the legislation in court.
Still, spokesman Tyler Shipley says they’re incredibly disappointed and called the back-to-work bill an unprecedented lack of respect for the bargaining process.
Premier Dalton McGuinty recalled the legislature last weekend in the hopes of getting all-party consent to pass the bill immediately.
But the New Democrats opposed it, which delayed its passage for another four days.
- The Canadian Press
NDP stalls back-to-work bill in York University strike
Students could have returned to classes as early as Monday
Ontario’s New Democrats have stalled the provincial government’s bid to end the York University strike with back-to-work legislation.
The legislation tabled today could have ended the strike and sent students back to class early this week, had it passed with the unanimous consent of the legislature.
But the NDP’s eight members voted against early passage, arguing that an end to the labour dispute should not be forced by the government.
As a result, the legislation will have to be debated several times before it can go to a final vote, likely later this week or early next week.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says there’s no reasonable prospect of a negotiated settlement between the university and the union representing contract faculty and other staff.
About 3,300 workers at York have been off the job since Nov. 6., cancelling classes for about 50,000 students at Canada’s third-largest university.
York has seen three of the country’s five longest faculty association strikes. Saturday marked Day 80 of the current strike, while in 2001 there was a 78-day strike and in 1997 a strike lasted 55 days.
The length of those strikes are surpassed only by strikes at the University of Quebec in 1976-77 and Laval University in 1976, which both lasted about four months.
- The Canadian Press
New Democrats set to block York’s back-to-work bill
With unanimous support, classes could have restarted as early as Monday
Plans by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to get 50,000 York University students back to class on Monday after an 11-week strike will be blocked by the New Democrats, who plan to oppose back-to-work legislation to be tabled Sunday.
McGuinty said with unanimous support the legislation could pass Sunday and classes could resume Monday, but opposition by the New Democrats means the strike will continue at least several more days.
“There is, to my way of thinking, no reason whatsoever not to support this legislation and have it pass first, second and third reading tomorrow, Sunday,” McGuinty said.
New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton later said the party believes a resolution shouldn’t be forced and his members are set to debate each reading.
“It almost looks like the university has taken the position ‘We won’t bargain and then we’ll allow the McGuinty government to settle this.’ And that’s wrong,” he said.
The real issue is that education in Ontario is “chronically underfunded,” Hampton said.
“That’s where the real problem lies. And trying to blame the workers is frankly just wrong.”
Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory had been pressing for back-to-work legislation and said he expects his party will support it.
“What he’s done today is very, very, very late, but better late than never,” Tory said.
“But he should be ashamed of himself for the fact he’s let this go on for so long.”
Though the process could last up to two weeks, when it’s through McGuinty says the school must examine what appears to be a “systemic issue” that led to the “labour mess” and jeopardized its students’ futures, Premier Dalton McGuinty said.
“Educational aspirations, opportunities, a bright future – I mean, that’s what we want for our kids and all of that was compromised as a result of what took place at York University,” McGuinty said.
“I cannot help as a parent but resent that and be angered by that.”
York University gets back-to-work legislation
Bill will be voted on at a “special sitting” Sunday afternoon
An 11-week strike at York University could come to an end as early as Sunday and send some 50,000 students back to class the next day if back-to-work legislation gets the support of all parties, the premier said Saturday.
What you probably don’t know about the York University strike
For complete coverage of the York University strike, click here
Dalton McGuinty appointed the province’s top labour mediator just days ago to help bring an end to the labour dispute, but Reg Pearson told the premier Saturday morning there was no “reasonable prospect” of a negotiated settlement.
After previously rejecting Opposition calls to table back-to-work legislation, McGuinty announced he would recall the legislature for a special sitting at 1 p.m. Sunday.
“I am now absolutely convinced that the two sides are in deadlock,” McGuinty said.
“There is no…reasonable prospect or resolution through the traditional bargaining process, so time’s up.”
McGuinty said if the legislation receives the support of both the Conservatives and the New Democrats, it could pass first, second and third reading on Sunday. If not, the process could take up to two more weeks.
Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory had already been pressing the province to take such action.
York University students woke up Saturday to the news they could be back in class sooner than expected.
“I just think that if they had of really been on the ball and they had really been paying attention, then they would have known that back-to-work legislation was necessary a month ago,” said Scott McLean, 20, a third-year film production student.
“It’s really disappointing that (McGuinty) continued to still drag it for this long. So it’s nice, but it’s a little late.”
Stacey Russell, 21, a fourth-year sociology student, said she’s feeling divided.
“I’m excited to go back, just because this is my final year and I’ll be graduating,” she said.
“However, I am not looking forward to going back at all because if we have to cram, it’s going to be ridiculously stressful.”
As faculty and teaching assistants may be forced back to the classroom rather than reaching an agreement, Russell said she’s concerned about the mood on campus.
Mediator named in last-ditch effort to end York University strike
Premier dispatches his “biggest gun” in an attempt to break the 11-week deadlock
A top provincial mediator was appointed Wednesday to “bang a few heads together” in a last-ditch effort to end a strike that’s left 50,000 York University students in academic limbo, with some fearing they have been forgotten amid the stalled labour dispute.
The workers will continue to strike until they receive a fair contract, a union spokesman said, a day after members rejected an “inadequate” offer.
Poll: What should York students do about the university’s ongoing strike?
Updated: For the latest on the York University strike, click here.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty dispatched his biggest gun, Reg Pearson, to try to break the deadlock, while rejecting Opposition calls to force an end to the strike at Canada’s third-largest university with back-to-work legislation.”This thing has gone on so long, one could be forgiven for coming up with the impression that the two sides have lost sight of the interests of the students,” McGuinty said.
“We’ll give this one more shot. We think it’s the fastest way to bring this home, which is to send in a mediator to bang a few heads together and ideally lead to a speedy resolution.”
Pearson, the director of the Ministry of Labour’s Dispute Resolution Services, which provides arbitration and mediation services to trade unions and employers, will be given a limited amount of time to broker a deal, said McGuinty.
Setting a firm deadline won’t help resolve the dispute, McGuinty suggested.
York University president Mamdouh Shoukri says the school “welcomed” the announcement and is hoping for a breakthrough in negotiations.
“We look forward to Reg Pearson’s involvement in the hope that it will lead to a speedy resolution,” he said in a press release issued Wednesday night.
Canadian Union of Public Employees spokesman Tyler Shipley said he supports the move.
“There are some heads at that table that need to be knocked,” he said. “We’ve been trying with this university to bargain for not just the two-and-a-half months that we’ve been on strike, but six months.
“We started this process in July.”
The union membership of teaching assistants, graduate assistants and contract faculty met Wednesday to discuss how to proceed after rejecting the university’s latest offer by 63 per cent.
What should York students do about the university’s ongoing strike?
Maclean’s OnCampus readers vote on the question.
What should be done about hazing on campus?
- It should be banned outright (44%)
- If students want to join a frat, that's their choice (39%)
- It should be monitored and regulated (17%)
Loading ...Ont. mediator set to “bang a few heads together” at York University
Premier says he’ll send in a “top” mediator in the hopes of ending the lengthy strike
Premier Dalton McGuinty says he’ll send in a “top” mediator in the hopes of ending a strike that’s left 50,000 students in academic limbo at Canada’s third-largest university.
While the Opposition wants McGuinty to legislate an end to the strike at York University, the premier says the best option is to send in a mediator to “bang a few heads together” and resolve the strike as “quickly as possible.”
McGuinty characterized the move as taking one last shot at a deal, but did not set a firm deadline for a resolution.
Striking workers who voted on the university’s latest offer this week rejected it by 63 per cent and negotiations have reach an impasse.
Teaching assistants, graduate assistants and contract faculty have been on strike since Nov. 6, keeping some 50,000 students out of class.
While the union says it will return to the bargaining table this afternoon, the university says it has made its final offer.
York president Mamdouh Shoukri says the school has no intention of negotiating for the “sake of appearance.”
Union official Tyler Shipley says the main issue is job security for contract faculty, who have to renew their jobs each term.
The proposed contract offers a 10.7 per cent pay increase over three years.
- The Canadian Press
Ont gov whistling past graveyard on York strike
The provincial government could end the standoff: it’s choosing not to
From today’s The Globe and Mail:
There seems to be little concern in the Ontario government that York is crippling itself at a time when the economy needs more “knowledge workers.” Universities Minister John Milloy acknowledges the strike is “unfortunate,” but says he can’t intervene in the bargaining at an autonomous institution. “There is a process which is unfolding and we’re going to see what happens,” he said.
More political spin from the Ontario government. Minister Milloy can bring an end to the strike. The government bringing an end to the strike would not be easy and, instead, he is choosing to not get involved.
The government has two main options on the table.
It can pass back-to-work legislation (which, for the political reasons I noted last week, it will not) to send the dispute to binding arbitration. Back to work legislation is seen as anti-union for many reasons. Considering how strongly the government has resisted pressure so far, I’m hard pressed to see the government changing its mind.
The second option is for the government to give York University the funding necessary to meet CUPE 3903 bargaining demands. This is the pro-union option the government has on the table. The problem for the government here is that it just gave its own union less over four years than CUPE is demanding over two.
The Ontario Public Service Employees union reached a four-year contract with the government with provides “A wage increase of 1.75 per cent in the first year (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009), and 2 per cent per year in the remaining three years.” CUPE is demanding 11 per cent over two years in wage increases.
York union blasts “charade” ratification vote
University says few options left in ending two-month-long strike
The York University union that represents striking contract faculty and teaching assistants says it is frustrated and disappointed with the university for calling on the Minister of Labour to hold a supervised ratification vote on its most recent offer.
“It’s insulting,” says CUPE 3903 spokesperson Tyler Shipley. “We finally start making some progress, both sides start showing some movement, and as soon as it starts to look like we’re on the verge of settling on a few key issues, York walks away from the table.”
According to a press release issued by York University administration Friday, the school has asked Ontario’s Minister of Labour to direct a supervised vote on the Jan. 7 settlement offer from the university to striking employees.
Joey Coleman’s thoughts on a York strike supervised vote
See also: York students demand one-week deadline for strike deal
York offers striking workers new “enhanced” deal
Photo slideshow: Rallies at York University
The university is citing the refusal by the union’s bargaining team to take York’s last settlement offer to their membership for a vote as their primary cause for their request to the provincial government. At a meeting between the two parties today, York administration says the union did not bring forward any modifications to its positions or present a counter-offer.
Shipley says they have already put the university’s latest offer to a membership vote, which was held Thursday evening.
“We put their offer out there and asked our members what they thought. About 90 percent of the people there, at a meeting of over 500 people, said that this offer was totally inadequate,” he says.
“And now we’re going to go through this charade with the Ministry of Labour on the supervised vote on an offer that doesn’t address the needs of our members.”
According to spokesperson Alex Bilyk, a separate ministry-supervised vote would be required for each of the three bargaining units of the union, which represent approximately 950 contract faculty, 1,850 teaching assistants and 550 graduate assistants. He says the votes could be conducted as soon as they can be arranged by the Ministry of Labour, and a simple majority vote in favour of each offer would mean a quick end to the strike.
“After five months of unsuccessful negotiations, we see this as a necessary step because it will give employees in each bargaining unit a chance to vote on our settlement offers, end this strike and get our students back to class,” says Bilyk.
Quick thoughts on York strike supervised vote
Is a supervised vote insulting to the union leadership? Yes, it is. So what?
I’m presently delivering a session at the Canadian University Press conference and apologize for the briefness of the post.
Today York University asked Ontario’s Minister of Labour to conduct a forced supervised vote on the university’s latest offer to CUPE.
I don’t need to repeat a lot of what is already out there. In short, the offer from York is fair and union members will have to decide if they want to go for more.
The normal economics of labour disputes do not exist here. The TAs and contract faculty are not actually losing money on the picket line; they are merely deferring their income until they return to work. (In comparison, salaried workers do lose wages and this typically results in them taking a reasonable offer because there is a cost in not doing so.)
CUPE has responded to the forced vote by, once again, issuing over-the-top statements that ultimately hurt their standing in public opinion.
Calling the vote a “charade with the Ministry of Labour” does not reflect well on an union that consists of individuals with high levels of education. To say it’s “insulting” doesn’t help either.
It is not a charade, nor is it insulting to the average member of a union to have the ability to democratically express their opinion on a contract offer. The secret ballot is one of the most cherished fundamentals in a democratic society and should be cherished, by extension, in an organization that claims to be democratic in nature.
I’m hard-pressed to see how a process which will, finally, give everyone involved an accurate assessment of where CUPE 3903 members stand is a charade.
Is it insulting to the union leadership? Yes, it is. So what? The union leadership doesn’t like not having control over the method in which their members get to express their opinion. Having people pack a hall and face the peer pressure of supporting the union leadership is what they prefer. Who can blame them? Any group in power wishes to control the circumstances to their advantage.
This problem exists wherever there is power. Why do you think Prime Minister Harper broke his own fixed-election-date law?
This supervised voted is going to answer a lot of questions. One that I have is how much does the McGuinty government really care about York students?
The ball is now in McGuinty’s court. His Minister of Labour should be working this weekend and pay whatever overtime expenses are necessary in order to announce details of the vote Monday morning and to conduct it early next week.
York administration’s offer rejected by striking workers
Before vote, spokesperson said chances of approval were “slim to none”
The strike at York University, which has kept the majority of students out of classes for two months, will continue after union members rejected the university’s latest offer last night.
The union said nearly 90 per cent of its members voted to send their negotiators back into talks with the university.
NEW: York asks Minister of Labour to hold supervised strike vote
See also: Full coverage of the York University strike from Maclean’s OnCampus
Photo slideshow: Rallies at York University
Before the vote, Tyler Shipley, spokesman for the union representing the striking employees, said he believed members would reject the administration’s latest contract offer.
The union and the university took a break from bargaining Thursday to allow members of CUPE Local 3903 to meet to discuss the offer.
Even before those talks were held, however, a union spokesman predicted members would reject the deal.
Tyler Shipley said chances were “slim to none” that members would accept the offer, saying that the union would have a counter-proposal ready to present to the university’s administrators Friday at the bargaining table.
York officials say the new three-year offer provides 0.7 per cent more in overall wages and benefits for a total dollar value of 10.7 per cent.
University spokesman Alex Bilyk said the offer includes the same 9.25 per cent wage hike as previous proposals. He said York sweetened the pot with richer benefits and job security, including an offer to create 22 new full-time faculty positions.
The key issue is a union demand that contract faculty be given five-year contracts as opposed to the eight-month contracts they have now.
More than 3,300 teaching assistants and contract faculty walked off the job the Nov. 6, wiping out classes for some 50,000 students.
Talks will continue Friday.
- The Canadian Press
York students demand one-week deadline for strike deal
Group asks gov’t to pass back-to-work legislation if no agreement is reached
A group representing close to 4,000 York University students is demanding that CUPE 3903 and university administration set a firm deadline for the completion of negotiations designed to end a two-month-long strike at the university.
“Negotiations do nothing for students unless they end the strike,” says Lyndon Koopmans, an organizer for YorkNotHostage.com. “We cannot accept protracted negotiations that prolong the strike and threaten the school year. There must be an end to the negotiations, and an end to the strike.”
YorkNotHostage.com is proposing that negotiations conclude by Thursday, Jan. 15, at which point the strike will have lasted for 10 weeks. Under the proposal, any issues that have not been resolved in negotiations will be submitted to voluntary binding arbitration. This would result in an immediate end of the strike and permit classes to resume the following week.
The group says that if accepted by both parties, these measures will ensure that classes can resume at York University by Monday, Jan. 19.
Members of CUPE Local 3903 are set to meet at a general members meeting at 5:00 p.m EST today.
YorkNotHostage.com says it has also forwarded its proposal to Premier Dalton McGuinty, asking the premier to recall the legislature and pass back-to-work legislation if the union and the university do not accept their plan.
York offers striking workers new “enhanced” deal
After “progress,” admin offer has 9.25 per cent raise over three years plus benefits
According to York University administration, after five days of progress in negotiations, the union representing striking teaching assistants and contract faculty has been presented with a new “enhanced” deal that would mean a total raise of 10.7 percent over three years.
NEW: York students demand one-week deadline for strike deal
See also: Back-to-work legislation for York? Don’t hold your breath
Alex Bilyk, media relations director for the university, says they are asking CUPE 3903 to present the new offer to its membership for a ratification vote at the earliest opportunity. He says the offers include a 9.25 percent increase in wages plus “significant benefits and other improvements over the term of the new three-year collective agreements.”
In a press release issued Jan. 7, the university says its settlement offer addresses the key priority areas identified by CUPE 3903, namely:
- Enhanced job security for contract faculty through 22 new full-time faculty positions
- Further increases in Funds to reflect recent membership growth
- Indexation of Funds to address any future membership growth
- Tuition protection for the full term of the new collective agreements
- Increase in minimum guaranteed funding for graduate teaching assistants
The administration says it “firmly believes that these comprehensive offers for settlement of 10.7% over three years are fair, responsible and sustainable – particularly in this worsening economic climate” and is urging the union to accept the offer for the sake of the school’s 50,000 students.
