Stedman Tabiri | Contributor
Featured Image: Posters plastered campus-wide informing the York community on the purpose of the levy. | Hanad Adan
A tug of war between the York administration and CUPE 3903 continues as a vote to invoke a levy was held and passed last week. The Executive Committee is proposing the one per cent levy, which will increase union dues, to balance the budget due to York pushing grievances into arbitration.
Posters were plastered all across campus, which briefly explained why the union needs additional funding, advertising the vote to be conducted on January 8.
The following day, the levy vote was officially passed. The results of the vote at the General Membership Meeting were as follows: 85 in favour, 50 opposed, one abstention. Grievances are established to give both sides an opportunity to find solutions for issues regarding hiring, as well as application of the collective agreement.
Devin Lefebvre, chairperson for CUPE 3903, claims that York is being uncooperative in settling grievances. “We’ve seen that since the strike ended, York’s administration is basically ignoring the normal grievance procedure and is instead insisting on sending things to mediation arbitration, and this is expensive,” he says.
Arbitration is where the costs come in; the union will have to pay for half of the cost of the room, which includes the arbitrator. In addition, more money is needed for staff salaries to be paid along with benefits, pensions, and legal fees. They claim this will help ensure jobs are not jeopardized.
“It’s basically there to keep the work of the union going. What this means for our members is that we’ll have the funds to be able to continue to represent them—to continue to do the work that we do, not just on campus, but with organizations across the city,” Lefebvre says.
The one per cent levy will appear on pay cheques this month, extending all the way through April. The increase will be responsible for paying off over $170,000 worth of legal bills; $51,000 from the month of December alone. The costs will continue to mount up with the upcoming arbitration and grievances.
CUPE 3903 also reported the bulk of the local’s budget comes from Fall/Winter dues.
“Any union in Ontario works and is able to do their work through the dues they receive from their members that are a percentage of their earnings,” Lefebvre says.
A fourth-year communication and culture PhD candidate and member of CUPE, who wishes to remain anonymous, feels the one per cent levy will be useful. “I’m in support of this levy because I know it’s going toward something that will benefit me,” they say.
“It will benefit my union, which represents me.”
York Media did not have any comment on the vote.
