This toolkit is a daily compendium of news and links relating to the strike by Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903, which represents teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants at York University. The strike began on Nov. 6. For immediate information or to report picket line issues, call the Strike Hotline at 416-650-8420.
Delivery of sensitive materials: Procurement Services has received a number of calls related to the delivery of sensitive materials and supplies impacted by the current labour dispute. In a new bulletin, Procurement Services notes that a number of suppliers have indicated their unwillingness to either redirect shipments to York's off-site warehouse or cross picket lines.
"We are working with these suppliers to encourage them to make every effort to make these deliveries directly to campus; however, this remains a challenge," the bulletin says. "Researchers affected by the situation are encouraged to be patient while we work with suppliers to find alternative solutions to shipments to campus that are critical to ongoing research activities."
For further options, see the full bulletin. In cases where the nature of the situation becomes critical, contact Renata Faverin, director, Procurement Services, at rfaverin@yorku.ca or 416-736-5811.
Event cancellations: A wide variety of events have been cancelled or postponed due to the strike. Before planning to attend any campus events, please recheck the listings at the York Events page or YFile's Today@York listings (both display the same events). Items for which organizers have contacted York Events (events@yorku.ca) have been updated to show their status.
General information
Academic activities, including classes and exams, have been suspended for the duration of the strike, with some exceptions. For full details, students and others should go to the York Secretariat Labour Disruption page.
The University is open and employees not represented by CUPE Local 3903 are required to come to work.
Public transit services are still available. However, bus stops are at designated areas outside picket lines. For more information and a map of bus stops, see the Transportation Services Web site. The Keele-Glendon shuttle continues to operate.
Information and regular updates will be posted on the York home page, internal home page, Faculty & Staff page and Current Students page, and in YFile, Ylife and the My YorkU.ca student portal. A series of FAQ and information pages is listed at the bottom of this page.
Previous bulletins
Seven-day notice on courses: On Nov. 12, the Executive Committee of Senate issued a Notice to Faculties, Faculty Councils, Academic Units and the Community on Course Remediation. The notice advises that Wednesday, Nov. 12, was the seventh day of the strike. Senate policy deems that a disruption of seven days means that all suspended Fall term half-courses and courses running on more compressed schedules will require some remediation. The exact nature of the remediation for these courses will depend on the length of the disruption.
The notice, Bulletin No. 4, is posted with other Senate information relating to the strike at the York Secretariat's Labour Disruption page.
goSAFE to the buses: The goSAFE evening safety shuttle service will now begin at 5pm and will include the transit companies' designated bus stops outside picket lines. Vans will provide limited service on both the North Route and the South Route from Monday to Friday. For more information or to request special accommodation, call goSAFE at 416-736-5454 or ext. 55454. Online, see the map of transit bus stops and the goSAFE site.
Evening buses: During the day, transit companies continue to use designated bus stops outside picket lines. However, all transit buses will return to pick up and drop off at their regular campus bus stops after 7 pm and on weekends providing there are no picket lines. For specific route information and customer bulletins, see the Web links at the Transportation Services Web site.
Who will use the evening buses? Among others, Seneca@York students, whose classes continue.
Mail: If you’re wondering what to do about sending mail, fear not. Nothing much has changed. Outgoing mail should still be placed in the usual collection place in your unit, where Mailing Services will continue to pick it up.
Incoming mail will continue to be delivered as usual.
Mail, courier and other inbound deliveries are being coordinated through an off-campus warehouse and transferred to and from the Keele campus.
Couriers: The three principal courier companies – Federal Express, Purolator, and DHL – have been informed that any deliveries destined for the Keele campus (regardless of location) should be redirected to an off-campus warehouse. Community members not using these courier companies will be responsible for directly informing other courier companies of the new delivery location and referring them to either Procurement Services (ext. 55143) or Mailing Services (ext. 77598) to obtain the warehouse location.
For courier pickup, people can make their own arrangements or contact Mailing Services (ext. 77598) for more options. Normally, people will be asked to put the package with a completed waybill into their mail collection, and the package will go out the next day.
Deliveries: For full details about deliveries, see the Inbound Deliveries bulletin on the Procurement Services page.
Picketing
It is important to remember that the picketers are members of the York community. They are engaged in a lawful labour dispute with the University. This is a legal strike and it will result in delays and inconvenience.
In a strike, picketers are legally permitted to:
- carry signs stating the nature of the dispute;
- speak to you about their concerns;
- ask you to join the picket line.
Picketers are not legally permitted to:
- blockade entrances to the University;
- use force, threats or threatening gestures;
- construct physical barriers to block access to the University;
- engage in unlawful behaviour.
Points to remember when approaching the picket line:
- Safety is important. Approach the picket line slowly. If you are driving, plan your approach to the University so that you can make a right turn onto the campus. This will prevent you from being caught in the middle of an intersection in case of delays.
- Whether driving, walking or biking onto campus, be prepared to stop and wait until you can cross through the picket line.
- Be prepared for delays and remember to keep your calm. It is important to operate your vehicle in a safe and lawful fashion.
- You should not engage in any confrontation with picketers. If you are not allowed through the picket line, or if you feel threatened, do not attempt to force your way in, immediately withdraw. Do not become involved in any arguments or any type of altercation.
In the event that despite your best efforts you are unable to proceed to your place of work because of the picketing activity, you must immediately contact your manager and contact the Strike Hotline at 416-650-8420.
If you are intimidated, harassed or otherwise mistreated, inform your manager immediately of the time, place and people involved, and steps will be taken to communicate directly to the union and its members that such activity is not lawful or appropriate. If you are concerned for your health and safety, please contact your manager immediately. You may also provide details to the Strike Hotline at 416-650-8420.
Should you have any other concerns or should any issues arise during the work disruption, immediately contact your manager.
Where to find it
This list is updated regularly
- For information on the status of classes, exams and other academic activities, please go to the York Secretariat's Labour Disruption Web page.
- For updates on negotiations, please visit the Negotiations Update page.
- Students and prospective students seeking more information about the strike should visit the Division of Students Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Undergraduate students living in residence should visit the Undergraduate Housing Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Graduate students and others living in the York Apartments should go to the York Apartments Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Faculty and librarians should go to the Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty and Librarians page.
- Non-academic staff should visit the Frequently Asked Questions for Staff page.
- Employees represented by CUPE Local 3903 should see the Frequently Asked Questions prepared by Human Resources & Employee Relations.
- Research employees should see the Frequently Asked Questions for research staff.
- Transit information is available at the Transportation Services page.
- Hours of operation for food services are posted at the Food Services page.
- Information about library services is available at the York University Libraries news page.
- Information about inbound deliveries, including couriers, is available at the Procurement Services page.