York University yesterday issued the following update on negotiations with Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903. The union, representing teaching assistants (Unit 1), contract faculty (Unit 2) and graduate assistants (Unit 3), has been on strike since Nov. 6.
After five days of making some progress in negotiations, the University today presented to the union enhanced offers for settlement totalling 10.7 per cent over three years.
The University has asked the union to present these comprehensive offers for settlement to its membership for a ratification vote at the earliest opportunity.
These enhanced offers include a 9.25 per cent increase in wages plus significant benefit and other improvements over the term of the new three-year collective agreements.
The University’s comprehensive offers for settlement address 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 University firmly believes that these comprehensive offers for settlement of 10.7 per cent over three years are fair, responsible and sustainable - particularly in this worsening economic climate.
As time is of the essence for our 50,000 students, the University has asked CUPE 3903 to present these offers for settlement to the membership for ratification as soon as possible.