Delay in negotiations attributed to administration; admin rebuffs
Jacqueline Perlin
Assistant News Editor
Negotiations for a new contract between CUPE 3903 and York are underway this week to avoid a possible strike.
York management is finally meeting with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3903, which represents York’s contract faculty, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, and research assistants to negotiate the union’s proposals for their new contract after the prior one expired August 31.
Karen Walker, chair of CUPE 3903, explains that while the union has received most of the information it requested, the university lagged in providing the union with the material.
“[The delay] is why the bargaining process has not been on its usual track […] but we made use of the time to prepare the proposals,” explains Walker. She notes the union initially asked for several pieces of information in July and was only recently given what they asked for, while a few items remain outstanding.
The university, however, says they believe everything has been given in a timely fashion.
“I don’t know where that’s coming from […] we’ve provided detailed responses to the union’s request for background and supplementary requests for additional information,” says Wallace Pidgeon of York media, adding the university is prepared to reach a new collective agreement with the union.
“We’re hoping to conclude negotiations by February or March,” says Walker, adding that the possibility of a strike or lockout could occur at any point in the bargaining process.
Meetings are scheduled to begin this Friday and will occur every alternating week between Tuesdays and Fridays.
