York University strikers seek talks with president
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Vow to stay camped out by his office until he agrees to meet with them over breakdown of negotiations
Dec 18, 2008 04:30 AM
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Louise Brown
Education Reporter
Striking teaching assistants and their student supporters vow to stay camped out around the clock outside the office of the York University president until he meets with them and promises to host a public forum on the strike in January.
But there seems little hope of that meeting taking place, despite the strikers who strolled around campus yesterday singing such retooled Christmas carols as "I'm Dreaming of a Just Workplace," "God Rest Ye Merry Union Folk" and "We Wish You a Fair Contract."
Armed with sleeping bags and late-night pizza, 20 to 30 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees 3903 and some student supporters have occupied the corridor outside the office of president Mamdouh Shoukri since Monday afternoon. They are asking for a meeting – a request to which the president has not responded.
"We've seen the president on campus, but he hasn't met with us and our plan is to hang in until he does," said teaching assistant Gabrielle Gerin, a graduate student in political science, from her stakeout in the 9th-floor hall yesterday afternoon. University spokesperson Alex Bilyk has said he is not aware of any plans by Shoukri to meet with students, and noted that students could have asked the president questions last week during a meeting of the university senate.
But Gerin said the union was not invited to attend the senate meeting, and expressed concern that the senate meeting was held on campus in the first place – something the union considers inappropriate during a strike.
Moreover, "the senate meeting was held at the same time as our membership meeting," said Gerin, "so that really didn't give us the chance we need to have a full public discussion of the issues around the strike."
With no talks in sight and the first term already destined to drag into the new year, nearly 50,000 students at Canada's third-largest university have little hope of a quick end to the strike that has shut down classes since Nov. 6.
The university posted a message on its own website yesterday addressed directly to union members to "clarify key issues relating to negotiations."
The bulletin denied York is "stonewalling" talks or trying to "wait out" the union, but rather is waiting for the mediator to feel there's been enough compromise to resume talks. Although the mediator has asked both sides to go back and sharpen their pencils, there is no sign either the university or CUPE is busy revising its position.
The university has offered a wage increase of 9.25 per cent over three years and the union is seeking 8 per cent more over two years, plus better job security and restored funding for such benefits as child care and professional development.
Queen's Park refused to order an end to the strike before the Legislature rose for holidays last week – it will not resume until February – and the union has refused to consider binding arbitration to settle the dispute, something the university would welcome.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/555693 |
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