Jacqueline Perlin
Assistant News Editor
@jackieperlin
Negotiations between York and the union representing York’s teaching assistants and contract faculty continued last week in an effort to avoid a second strike by the union in four years.
York met with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3903 March 22 after the local voted in favour of a strike mandate, placing CUPE 3903 in a legal strike position as of April 12.
Joanne Rider of York media says the meetings following CUPE 3903’s strike mandate have been “productive” and explains that the university remains hopeful a negotiation will be reached with the conciliator.
Rider notes the university has increased its monetary proposals to meet the union’s desires. This includes increases in the per-term amount of financial assistance for international students, increases in summer assistance provided to graduate assistants, and increases in funds with priority given to international students.
However, according to CUPE 3903 chair Karen Walker, there has been “little movement” with regards to the university’s stance and the negotiation process since the vote for a strike mandate.
As for the York Federation of Students (YFS), vp equity Siva Vimalachandran says that while the student union has no influence over the bargaining process, they too remain hopeful that both sides reach an agreement before the strike deadline.
