Starting today, accurate, up-to-date information on labour negotiations with York University’s teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants is available at yorku.ca/labour.
“Keeping community members informed is very important to us. The new mobile-friendly website is focused exclusively on CUPE 3903 labour negotiations and will include regular bargaining updates, and other important and relevant information,” said Barbara Joy, chief spokesperson and director, Media Relations.
“We are encouraging students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents to go to the website and subscribe to receive regular email updates with the latest bargaining news and information,” said Joy.
Formal bargaining begins in October
York and CUPE 3903 meet today to exchange their bargaining positions with formal negotiations beginning on Oct. 16, followed by meetings scheduled every Monday through November. A summary of each bargaining session will be posted on the website.
“York University respects the collective bargaining process and the members of our community who are represented by CUPE 3903,” Joy said. “We are all here to serve our students and their education and York will be working hard to successfully reach a new agreement without any disruption.”
To help avoid a strike, York University is prepared to have outstanding issues decided by an independent arbitrator who can make binding decisions on both parties.
Negotiations part of university life
All Ontario universities have unionized employees so labour negotiations are a regular part of running a university.
“We are a progressive university – and it’s worth highlighting that over the last 17 years, York has successfully renegotiated 46 collective agreements. We are proud of that,” Joy said.
For additional information or to subscribe to email updates, go to yorku.ca/labour.