York University welcomes the decision by the provincial government to appoint William Kaplan, a highly regarded labour relations expert with extensive experience in the university sector, as the sole member of an Industrial Inquiry Commission to look into the issues of the strike by CUPE 3903.
Following more than six months of negotiating at the bargaining table, including 26 separate sessions, this appointment offers a new path forward to overcoming the significant differences and resolving the strike, which will soon be entering its seventh week.
York University is looking forward to working with Kaplan as soon as possible and hopes that this will lead to an expeditious settlement.
With this decision, York is inviting the union leadership to ask their members in CUPE 3903 to return to work so that the University’s students can successfully complete their winter terms while the inquiry process is underway. The University makes this invitation on the understanding that CUPE 3903 would retain the ability to withdraw its members’ services during the summer term if a settlement is not reached.
“All of us share a commitment to our students’ academic success and understand the uncertainty that the strike has created," said Interim Provost Lisa Philipps. "We absolutely respect the labour rights of our CUPE 3903 instructors. By returning to work while both parties make a sincere effort to work with the commissioner to find a resolution, we can ensure that our students can complete their year.”
York University will co-operate fully with the Industrial Inquiry Commission.