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Featured Image: The NDP blocked the Liberal’s bill that would have mandated CUPE 3903 workers back to work and ended the strike. | Courtesy of Ibagli
William (Bill) Kaplan, the Ministry of Labour’s Industrial Inquiry Commissioner assigned to review York’s case, released his report on May 4, the Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC).
The IIC aimed to analyze the concerns addressed by CUPE 3903, as well as reach a solution to the ongoing labour disruption.
Kaplan’s report suggested legislative intervention, imposing consensual interest arbitration between both York and the union.
On May 7, the Liberal provincial government attempted to pass back-to-work legislation to end the strike, however the bill was blocked by the NDP.
According to a press release provided by NDP MPP Peggy Sattler’s office, the NDP voted against the legislation in the interest of protecting CUPE 3903 members.
The release includes NDP Labour Critic MPP Cindy Forster’s comments on the legislation, stating: “The York University strike is the direct result of the Liberal government’s underfunding of our college and university systems. Hard-working students and faculty deserve so much better.
“We want students back in class and faculty back to work—and Wynne’s tactics today do literally nothing to accomplish that,” she continues.
York’s Media Relations Chief Spokesperson and Director Barbara Joy says: “Despite negotiating for more than six months, the Ministry of Labour’s Industrial Inquiry Commissioner (William Kaplan) concluded the parties are at an impasse.
“We remain at an impasse, and arbitration is the best option to end the strike quickly.”
Settlement on the report was due to be discussed following its release, but CUPE 3903’s absence at the meeting caused the discussion to be postponed.
Along with Kaplan’s report, York had also offered CUPE 3903 to vote on a Terms of Settlement agreement on May 8, with a deadline of May 10 at 11:59 p.m. for their response. Within the time frame no response was presented, and York announced they would be confirming summer term courses, the back-to-work protocol and that would guarantee union members 85 to 100 per cent of winter term pay was now void, and they will not move ahead with 2017 to 2018 conversion appointments.
CUPE 3903 responded with their own framework on May 11. According to Robin Verrall, a TA in the Political Science department, “CUPE members had three meetings where they scaled back a number of their proposals.
“CUPE did not send the details of this offer to York, but instead sent an open letter informing York that we had prepared this new, trimmed down offer, and were willing to sit down and discuss it and negotiate a final settlement to the strike,” says Verrall.
Further, the summer session has also been affected. “Currently, we have had to reduce the summer session and offer a variety of course completion options for students,” says Joy.
On Tuesday, picket lines were consolidated to the Main Gate for a Strike Committee meeting.
Labour Minister MPP Kevin Flynn’s office could not be reached for comment.
