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October 31, 2008

Strike at York University?

Posted by Daniel Tseghay at 04:41 PM ET

York University may find itself embroiled in a strike next week. The strike may be the last resort for teaching assistants, graduate assistants, research assistants, and contract faculty, if negotiations regarding wage increases and job security, among other things, do not prove fruitful. Sadly, the media, with its poor research and resultant inaccuracies, has not been helping the situation.

The Globe and Mail published an article today covering this development but omitted some key facts and, frankly, got others completely wrong. The article says that the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the representative and organizing body for the teaching assistants, graduate assistants, research assistants, and contract faculty, "is seeking a 30-per-cent wage increase".

Yet from a third-party, I obtained an email from the union's Chief Steward, Tyler Shipley, and he wrote this about their wage demands: "we have been clear with the employer that our wage demand - currently 15.6% - is flexible and subject to change". That was 15.6% - not 30. How did the Globe get this wrong? Couldn't they have spoken with any one of the union's representatives for some accurate numbers? The article ends with the line "Union officials did not respond to calls"; perhaps this serves as an answer?

Well, unfortunately, that is simply untrue. Tyler Shipley, in the same email, writes this: "I got a message at 10:00 this morning from the Globe and Mail asking for a comment on negotiations. When I called back at 12:00, no one answered the phone. At 12:15, I noticed this article". Continuing, he says "the union did respond, I phoned the individual reporter myself, but...the Globe and Mail chose not to answer the phone."

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Reader comments:

Copy and pasted from the The York University website...so maybe the globe and mail was right. They are demanding 30% wages, and it's someone else who needs to edit their article which is clearly bias.

The Extraordinary Cost of CUPE Local 3903’s Demands
With the strike date nearing, CUPE Local 3903 continues to demand:
• increases in wages, benefits and other monetary provisions in excess of $70 million or 112%
• including wage increases in excess of 30%, over a two year period.
This is notwithstanding the fact that York University’s TAs, contract faculty and GAs enjoy wages and benefits
that are among the best in Canada, a fact which is acknowledged by CUPE Local 3903.
In view of the very difficult budget situation the University is already facing, including 2% budget cuts in each of the
next three years, and the impact of the global financial crisis, it is clear that CUPE Local 3903’s demands are
unrealistic and unaffordable.

Posted by: dawn at November 3, 2008 12:42 AM

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Of course the York website would say this. It is run by York administration, which has been busy misrepresenting the union's demands. The actual demands of the union can be found at http://www.cupe3903.tao.ca/. At the very least one would expect Globe and Mail to consult the union website. The truth is that the average salary of union members would have to increase by 30% for them to make it just to the poverty line, while the salary of the head of the bargaining team Dean Drummond has increased by 15.6 percent between 2007 and 2008--to say nothing of the $300,000 annual salary and $81,000 minimum bonus the President of York University receives (Ontario Public Servants Disclosure, Universities Sector). Let's get the facts straight here!

Posted by: Julian at November 4, 2008 09:51 PM

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i'm pretty sure the union has substantially lowered their demand to only 7%. but let's not forget the important demand for job securities for contract faculty, many of whom have been working for 20 or 30 years without any kind of job guarantee.

Posted by: obama at November 4, 2008 10:12 PM

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