Since negotiations resumed Saturday, Jan. 3rd between CUPE 3903 and York University, our Bargaining Team has been working hard on an equitable deal for our members.

As the hours and days pass in what was meant to be the first week of winter classes, all eyes are on negotiations. The media are pressing for information and speculating on solutions that they, as reporters, could announce to students and the public. Among their questions is whether the Ontario Government should intervene with legislation to force an end to our dispute…. a potential disaster for CUPE 3903 and ALL Ontario public sector workers.

SAY NO to government intervention. GO WRITE on the discussion boards of the newspapers and broadcasters watching us. CONTACT the Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Labour Fonseca to voice your opposition (see below). LINK HERE to see the results of the Jan. 4th CP24 Online Poll.

Below are 5 reasons why back-to-work legislation is a bad idea:

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On December 15 - week six of the strike - a public forum on “Labour and the University” was held at Concorde Café in downtown Toronto. More than 35 students, CUPE members, York Faculty, labour activists and other members of the public were in attendance.

This panel discussion, convened and sponsored by Upping the Anti: A journal of theory and action, featured:

Brian D. Palmer, Canadian labour movement historian
Janice Newson, YUFA member & researcher of neoliberal restructuring in universities
(LINK: listen to Janice’s presentation 21:30)
Punam Khosla, striking CUPE 3903 member and media spokesperson
(LINK: listen to Punam’s presentation 24:13)

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December 15, 2008 - TORONTO, Ont.

As we write, more than 110 York undergraduate students are joining graduate student members of CUPE 3903 in an occupation of the President’s Office on the 9th floor of the Ross Building at York University. They are demanding that President Mamdouh Shoukri come out, engage them, and address 12 key questions.

They also plan to present him a letter to sign, requesting that he commit to participating in a public forum of undergraduates and CUPE members, to be held in the week of Jan. 5th, 2009.

Since the strike began on November 5th, and the University locked out students by canceling all classes, Shoukri’s actions and those of his representatives have ranged from unresponsive to hostile to the majority of student concerns. Most recently, President Shoukri refused to participate in an undergraduate Town Hall organized by the York Federation of Students on Thursday, Dec. 4th. There, students discussed the YFS economic proposal* urging York to direct funds and fundraising dollars away from non-essential expenses such as luxurious celebrations, and huge raises and bonuses for York Administrators, back to the classroom where it belongs.

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Published here by permission. “Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham. www.phdcomics.com.