Anna Voskuil | News Editor
Featured Image: The September 17 GMM brought to light many YUFA concerns. | Courtesy of YUFA
On September 17, the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) held a General Membership Meeting (GMM) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., wherein YUFA’s Executive Committee brought a motion on a possible strike mandate vote, which was supported by a solid majority.
In their bargaining updates, YUFA reports that they filed notice to bargain with York on February 2, and their collective agreement expired on April 30.
According to the motion proposed by the union’s Executive Committee: “In order to provide a firmer basis for progress in the current protracted round of negotiations, the YUFA membership calls upon the YUFA Executive to conduct a vote authorizing possible job action, as per Article 9.3 of the YUFA Constitution, if a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached.”
YUFA President Arthur Redding addresses the primary concerns the union holds: “We are particularly concerned, for example, that faculty and librarians face weakened pensions and benefits in retirement compared to colleagues at other universities; this may cause many faculty members to delay retirement, which slows the rate at which we can hire new professors.
“We also are concerned that faculty members, who are the experts in their fields, face increasingly diminished opportunities to develop academic priorities within their departments, and at the university more generally.”
Now with the motion brought to light, many students are expressing their concern of yet another potential strike.
Mike Robinson, a fourth-year anthropology and history student, says: “I support YUFA’s position. I’m not that worried about a strike because in the current political climate, they will be legislated back very quickly.
“I’m more worried about a possible work-to-rule, but will support them if they are forced down that route.”
Lyon Hart, a second-year English and professional writing student, adds: “What I do know is that as much as I enjoy the atmosphere and community of York over other universities, I simply cannot endure another strike. I didn’t support the last one because of its politics, and I won’t support this one on principle. I can’t afford to.”
“We are still a long way from holding a strike mandate vote, which we hope will not be necessary,” says Redding.
York’s Faculty Department webpage mentions their mandate of Faculty Relations, which includes: “Interpretation and administration of collective agreement provisions; acting as the University’s primary point of contact with all academic associations and unions; positive, solution-oriented dispute resolution; professional development support for academic community members to assist in the achievement of career objectives; and confidential assistance with immigration and relocation matters connected to new academic employment at York.”
Further, it mentions the department “supports excellence in teaching and research by providing professional services that promote and facilitate positive relationships on matters related to academic employment at York.”
The bargaining team will meet with the employer next week to determine if a strike vote is necessary.
At the moment of publishing, York Media Relations could not be reached for comment.
As a YUFA faculty member, I attended the GMM and barely one-sixth of the membership was in attendance. There were numerous requests made of the YUFA leadership team to allow for an e-vote and/or to open up alternate ways for faculty members to participate in the meeting; the YUFA leadership team dismissed those calls. The vote passed in favour of the motion but there was a substantial number of faculty members who voted against the motion. Furthermore, there were many YUFA members who spoke against any strike action and who voiced their concern for students. Let us all hope that YUFA leadership also share that concern.