Nous, l’exécutif de CUPE 3903, sommes heureux que 1466 de nos auxiliaires d’enseignement, graduate assistants et chargés de cours ait vote contre la dernière offre de l’employeur lors du vote de ratification force. Ce nombre représente 799 personnes de l’Unité 1, 363 de l’Unité 2, et 304 de l’Unité 3 pour un grand total de 63% en faveur du NON. Le membership de note syndicat est resté assez fort contre l’employeur qui a fait le strict minimum au niveau de la négociation et qui a refusé de reconnaître nos demandes clés durant la grève qui a, jusqu’ici, duré 77 jours. Continue Reading »

The CUPE 3903 Strike Video Committee is pleased to host a

*CUPE Movie Night! *
On Thursday January 22nd. From 7pm - 9pm
at Anitafrika Dub Theatre <www.anitafrika.com>, 62 Fraser Ave.
(Two blocks south and east of Dufferin and King)

*Our Feature Presentation:*
“Strike to Win” by Birgit Dettenkofer-Armstrong and Shahriar Karimi

Continue Reading »

We, the executive of CUPE 3903, are pleased that 1466 of our teaching assistants, graduate assistants and contract faculty have voted against the employers’ latest offer in a forced ratification vote. This number represents 799 in Unit 1, 363 in Unit 2, and 304 in Unit 3, for a total of 63% voting NO to this offer. The membership of this union has stood strong against an employer who has done the bare minimum in terms of bargaining and who has refused to recognize our key demands during a strike that has so far lasted 77 days.

This deal has been recognized as one that is not adequate in terms of addressing the priorities as outlined by our members, and we are disappointed that York University’s administration felt the need to waste 11 days of bargaining on an offer that they knew our members would reject.

The defeat of forced ratification is a victory, but our work as a local is not done. Our challenges are real and many. They will not be met easily, but they will be met. We need to get back to the table so that we can all go back to work with a deal that is fair and equitable. Our members have outlined key priorities again and again: We will not give them up for the sake of expedience.

There are some who have questioned the scope of our demands and the scale of our ambitions. They think we are asking too much. But these criticisms fail to take into account all that this union has already accomplished through years of collective bargaining.

But there is much yet to be gained

For contract faculty we want to see the integrity of our conversions program maintained, and also have job security for these members.

For teaching assistants and graduate assistants in our local we need to see the issue of graduate funding addressed in a way that takes into account the needs of our members.

For all our members we need to see an Extended Health Benefits Fund that takes into account the real and serious health issues that our members face each day. We need to have a fund that is ample enough in terms of assisting our members with childcare needs.

All this we can do, and all this we will do.

Over the course of this strike we have been amazed at the level of commitment our members have shown to this local and to our key priorities. We have been awed by all the hard work and countless hours people have put in day after day. We are confident the solidarity that has been shown over the past few months will remain through to the end and beyond the strike.

This is the source of our confidence – the knowledge that we as members will stand strong in solidarity and win a fair settlement through the democratic process of collective bargaining.

Solidarity Forever,

The CUPE 3903 Executive Committee

York has organized an informal forum — open to members of the University community — to follow the Senate meeting on Thursday, January 22.  The Chair of Senate will moderate.

The Senate meeting begins at 3:00 p.m. and is scheduled to conclude no later than 5:00 p.m.  It will be held in the Senate Chamber, N940 Ross Building OR at the York Woods Library, 1785 Finch Ave. West, North York.  The location will be confirmed prior to the meeting by means of an e-mail notification and a posting on the Senate Website at

http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate/agenda/2008-2009/090122.html

RSVPs are not required but attendance is subject to the availability of space.

Tuesday, Jan. 20th, 8pm
Concord Cafe, 937 Bloor St. West. just west of Ossington station. (Accessible location)
Finger food will be provided.

All members of the local are invited to attend, and whatever the outcome we hope to move forward in constructive ways.

There will be no picket lines on Monday and Tuesday. Instead, members are encouraged to earn strike pay by helping to coordinate the No Vote activities over the weekend and on Monday and Tuesday. Here is how to help and who to contact:

• Phone-Arounds. Help call people to pull out the vote. Contact Greg Bird: gregdbird@gmail.com
• Door-to-Door Canvassing. House calls to pull out the vote. Contact Ryan Toews toewsr@gmail.com and Baolinh Dang baolinhd@gmail.com
• Organizing Sunday Rally. Contact Jordy Cummings to help: jordycummings@gmail.com
• Organizing Monday Rally. Contact Noaman Ali to help: noaman.ali@gmail.com
• If you are over 25, have a driver’s license, have independent insurance, and want to help with accessible transportation on Monday and Tuesday, contact Healy Thompson: healythompson@gmail.com
• On Monday and Tuesday, we will need people handing out information in the shuttles arranged by York. For more information on this, contact Niki and Alicia at ratmob3903@gmail.com.
• On Monday and Tuesday, we will need people handing out information and helping to mobilize around the hotel. For more information, contact Lana at ratmob3903@gmail.com.
• For more tasks related specifically to the mobilization of the No Vote at the Hotel, please contact Christina Roussea: christina.rousseau@gmail.com
• To help organize a post-rat vote party, contact the Executive, who will give you parameters (noaman.ali@gmail.com).

Strike Crash Course: Consolidated information for new CUPE 3903 members whose contracts are set to begin January 2009. Click here to download PDF.

Shuttles are available to assist members voting Jan. 19/20. [link attached pdf]: Unfortunately, York has chosen (and the Ministry of Labour) has agreed to have the forced ratification vote at a hotel that is near a subway station (North York Centre), which is not accessible. They have “generously” agreed to run accessible shuttles from the Finch and Sheppard stations. However, the shuttles they’re running from Keele campus, Glendon, and Downsview are not accessible.

Members requiring accessible transportation to and/or from the forced ratification vote have four options:
1) Take the TTC to Finch or Sheppard stations and then take the accessible shuttle from those stations to the hotel for the vote.
2) Arrange for WheelTrans service and CUPE 3903 will reimburse you for the cost (contact healythompson@gmail.com or 416-660-1352 for reimbursement)
3) Call the number York university is asking people to contact for accessible transportation from York University–Nicole Arsenault at 416-736-5866 or by e-mail at narsenau@yorku.ca
or
4) (The Most Fun Option) Take the accessible van transportation CUPE 3903 is providing to and from the ratification vote for anyone needing accessible transportation within Toronto. To take advantage of this option, contact Healy Thompson at healythompson@gmail.com or 416-660-1352

Download Travel Direction PDF: travel-directions-and-shuttle-information-for-supervised-vote

Adversarial Labour Relations and the Rationality of Striking to Win and Voting No
by Michael Skinner

Some CUPE 3903 members question the adversarial concept of labour relations articulated by the most outspoken proponents of the strike as well as the relative costs compared to the potential benefits of this strike. I address these issues from an admittedly biased perspective based on experience as a long-time labour and human rights activist, as an education facilitator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Union Education Programme since 1997, and as a current TA for the course “Labour Relations in Canada” SOSC2210 at York University. Continue Reading »

Bursary Deadline: In order to receive funds before February 1st please submit your Strike Hardship bursary application by January 19th. Please note, if you received funds for December YOU ARE ABLE to apply again before the 19th.

Loans: As of the first week of January the full amount budgeted to provide interest free loans to our members was disbursed. However, following from a motion passed at the last General Membership Meeting (January 8th) CUPE 3903 is seeking additional funds so that we can continue to offer our members loans during the strike. In the mean time, we encourage members in need to apply for a Strike Hardship Bursary if they have not already done so.