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EMPLOYER RENEGES ON OFFER TO BARGAIN, TURNS BACK ON UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY


FEATURED

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Comms Officer

This is the Bargaining Team’s response to Dan Bradshaw’s letter, March 14th,
withdrawing the University’s willingness to meet for bargaining.

Employer Reneges on Offer to Bargain, Turns Back on University Community

The bargaining team for Units 1, 2, and 3 have been in communication with the
Employer this week to schedule bargaining dates next week. As recently as
Wednesday, the Employer had expressed willingness to meet, even asking for
earlier dates. The bargaining team responded positively to this on Thursday. But
hours later, the Employer reneged on that commitment, leaving CUPE 3903, York’s
students, and the broader community in the lurch as the strike continues. 

Why this sudden about-face? The Employer is hiding behind the decision of an
outside party who, as the Employer writes, “has made it clear in her
correspondence this morning that she is not convening the parties at this time.”
The outside party in question is the mediator/conciliator appointed by the
Ministry of Labour in December as a step required by Ontario labour law to put
us in a legal strike position. Contrary to what the Employer is implying, the
parties are not required to use the conciliator (as a mediator) once the strike
begins. In fact, in previous rounds of bargaining, the Union and the Employer
have either bargained with a mediator who was not the government-appointed
conciliator or without any mediator at all. And nothing is now preventing the
York University administration from meeting with us without the blessing or help
of our former conciliator. Clearly, this baseless move by the Employer shows
that they have no interest in bargaining. Their stated concerns for the
community ring hollow as they sit on their hands rather than make moves to reach
an agreement. We remain committed to getting back to the table immediately and
to finding solutions that will get everyone back in the classroom. It’s a shame
that the Employer clearly does not share this commitment.

In its refusal to bargain, the Employer has repeatedly hammered on the Union’s
requested wage increases while offering wage increases well below inflation. We
remind the administration that we have moved much more than they have on wages
and other monetary issues during bargaining. Since both parties tabled their
initial monetary proposals, CUPE 3903 has dropped 6% on wages alone compared to
the Employer’s meagre increase of 1.75%. And in our March 9 counterproposals, we
lowered our benefits and funds demands considerably. 

For comparison’s sake, we invite the York University community to consider the
salaries of York University’s upper administration: their average salary
increase between 2018 and 2023 was 20%, not including bonuses, benefits, and
other funds. Take Dan Bradshaw, the Assistant Vice President Labour Relations
and lead negotiator for the Employer. He was paid $228,890 in 2020. And during
the Bill 124 period, when members of CUPE 3903 were limited to a 1% increase,
Bradshaw received a 5.9% increase in 2021 and a 4.8% increase in 2022, resulting
in a 2023 salary of $254,972. Just two years of Bradshaw’s increases amount to
more than a PhD student’s entire yearly funding. This is how much you need to
get paid to tell workers working multiple jobs and visiting food banks that you
won’t bargain. 

Our bargaining priorities are both reasonable and rooted in enriching the
quality of education at York University for students and workers alike. We are
fighting for decent wages during times of immense financial crisis, job
stability for the workers who do over half the teaching at the university, and
better workplace conditions that improve the learning experience for students.
Our message to the Employer is clear: if you truly want us to believe that you
care about the community, stop playing games. Live up to the willingness you
expressed just Wednesday and come to the table and finish bargaining.


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Posted in Uncategorized


CUPE 3903’S BARGAINING TEAM’S RESPONSE TO DAN BRADSHAW’S MARCH 13TH 2024 PUBLIC
LETTER ON BARGAINING.


FEATURED

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Comms Officer


CUPE 3903’S BARGAINING TEAM’S RESPONSE TO DAN BRADSHAW’S MARCH 13TH 2024 PUBLIC
LETTER ON BARGAINING.

Dan Bradshaw
VP Labour Relations
York University 

Mr. Dan Bradshaw, 

We were pleased to read in your March 13 letter that you are willing to return
to the bargaining table next week, if not before. In your letter, you express a
shared concern for students and a common sense of urgency to arrive at an
agreement. As educators who work closely with students, we want to be in the
classroom teaching; as graduate students, we want to be in the classroom
learning. Those concerns suggest to us that we should return to the table
without the mediator if necessary, or with another mediator if we can agree on
one. Accordingly, we propose to bargain on the dates we sent you previously, via
Zoom this Friday and over the weekend, while we arrange a meeting space to
continue bargaining in person next week. 

While the needs of students are foremost in our minds, we do not agree with your
characterization of negotiations in your recent communications. Our streamlined
proposals packages involve a significant reduction in our demands on benefits
and collective agreement funds. We have made these changes in order to keep the
bargaining process moving, including reducing our proposals on paramedical
services, vision care, orthodontics, and extension of benefits; revising our
proposal on the internal cap; and withdrawing three other proposals entirely. We
have also withdrawn our proposals to increase the Professional Development Fund,
as well as five other funds. Contrary to the Employer’s March 13 letter, CUPE
3903 has responded to all past proposals with counter proposals or
clarifications on the membership’s redlines, including that the JSP has been
rejected multiple times by the Unit 2 membership. With that said, we have
several points of agreement ready to be finalized and we are close on many
issues, and believe that we can resolve what remains at the bargaining table. 

We also feel an obligation to express concerns about the administration’s
comments on student well-being and pedagogical integrity. The Employer’s efforts
to continue classes during a strike is troubling. We note that this position is
echoed by YUFA, which has taken the position that the Employer’s current process
around continuing classes represents such significant “managerial overreach and
arbitrariness” that they have filed a policy grievance against the
administration. We urge the Employer to demonstrate our shared commitment to all
students by engaging in meaningful negotiations without delay to ensure that
York students and instructors are teaching and learning without constant worry
about how to afford food and shelter.

To reiterate, we are available to meet with the Employer on the following
dates: 

 * Friday, March 15, 2024, 10-5pm (online only) 
 * Saturday, March 16, 2024, 10-5pm (online only) 
 * Sunday, March 17, 2024, 10-5pm (online only) 
 * Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 10-5pm (hybrid) 
 * Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 10-5pm (hybrid) 

Workers’ and students’ livelihood and access to high quality education are on
the line. We await your response and look forward to returning to the table in a
manner that reflects that urgency. 

The CUPE 3903 Bargaining Team 

Cc: Erinn White
Sandra Shime
Leanne De Filippis
YUFA
YFS
YUGSA


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Posted in Uncategorized


STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUPE 3903 MEMBERS AFTER PICKET LINE ARREST


FEATURED

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Comms Officer

Statement of Solidarity with CUPE 3903 Members after Picket Line Arrest

CUPE 3903 unequivocally condemns the use of police intimidation and aggression
to stifle peaceful well-established picket lines following the unjust arrest of
one of our members on Monday, March 4th. This was at a picket line that has been
used to communicate and educate during labour actions for the last 23 years. The
Executive of CUPE 3903 strongly denounces this arrest and is appalled by the
reports of excessive aggression and force used against our members. 

We denounce any police intimidation of peaceful picketers engaging in a legal
strike, which often disproportionately impacts already marginalized community
members. We realize that this experience has not been limited to our picket
lines. To quote PSAC National President Chris Aylward regarding their own
experience, “These heavy-handed, excessive and unnecessary police tactics are an
attack on workers meant to silence their voices and weaken their bargaining
power”. We need to question who and what purposes were served by this aggressive
police escalation one week into our strike.

There needs to be accountability for the way in which workers and students are
being treated during this legal strike. Workers deserve dignity and respect in
their fight for a better York University for all. Striking is a right that is
protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Fundamentally, when
striking workers are mistreated and intimidated, that right is not being
respected.

To this date, we have not seen this respect from the administration, rather they
have gone through extreme lengths to undermine the strike by all means,
including forcing courses to continue to run despite academic integrity being
compromised. Students deserve the high-quality education they signed up for and
continuing classes at half-teaching capacity rather than bargaining is not the
way to achieve this. 

We understand that members are rightfully shaken up by the events of March 4th.
What happened was wrong. Though we strongly condemn the arrest, safety is our
greatest priority, and we will continue to liaise with lawyers and law
enforcement to ensure that our members are safe. We are also setting up peer
support lines and are here to provide additional support to members during this
time.

Our strike is for proposals that will address genuine concerns at York
University and will strengthen the quality of education for all. Our picket
lines are peaceful, well-established, and community-oriented. On our picket
lines, you will find both graduate and undergraduate students, faculty members,
service workers, staff, and many other vital and cherished contributors to the
York University community. We will continue to stand together to fight for
better working and learning conditions for us all.


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Posted in Uncategorized


SUPPORT STRIKING WORKERS AT YORK UNIVERSITY!


FEATURED

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Comms Officer

Looking for ways to support contract faculty, graduate/research assistants and
teaching assistants at York University?  WE LOVE THAT! 

Contract faculty, Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants at York University
are on strike since February 26th, 2024. We are asking for decent wages, job
security and work-place protections in our fight for a more affordable and
accessible high-quality education for all. 

Click here to learn about our bargaining priorities!

Despite our legitimate proposals, the employer remains intransigent on priority
issues.

We appeal to you for solidarity in our labour action to support us in securing a
fair deal that makes high quality education at York University more affordable,
more accessible and more equitable for everyone!

There’s many ways to support us, and any support is deeply appreciated!

 1. You can express your solidarity by donating (via e-transfer) to:
    cupe3903strikesolidarity@gmail.com.Please write: Strike Solidarity in the
    memo.Alternatively, you can mail paper cheques to our strike headquarters
    at:
    
    CUPE 3903 Strike Headquarters
    208-20 DeBoers Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 0H1.

 2. Please participate in our email campaign telling President Lenton and six
    members of the York University Senior Administration to bargain fairly :
    https://weareyork.ca
 3. Letters of solidarity mean a lot to us, as unionists we know our strength is
    in our numbers! If you would like to share a letter of solidarity with us
    please email Erin, cupe3903comms@gmail.com
 4. Join our picket lines! WE LOVE VISITORS! If you’re a student or community
    member joining our lines, please let someone in an orange vest know so that
    the picket captain can let you know safety protocols. If you would like to
    schedule a formal visit please email Vanessa, recsec.cupe3903@gmail.com

Thank you for your support. 


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Posted in Uncategorized


MY TRACKER APP LOGIN INFORMATION

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Comms Officer

Below is a link to view a video that will show you how to install the My Tracker
App as well as
how to use it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udVF-qP_8S0&feature=youtu.be

Below is a link to view your day to day transactions for clocking in/out and/or
sick days off.

Web Inquiry – Login (advancedtracker.com)

Your login details are:

Badge: enter your 9 digit employee #
Password: “welcome”

My Tracker App
You can download the App at Google Play or iOS App Store. When the application
is opened for the first time, it will prompt for the Server Key.

Enter the Server Key TIEOZ and then hit CHECK KEY to complete the setup process.


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Posted in Uncategorized


BARGAINING TEAM DAILY NEWS, MARCH 16, 2024 AND MARCH 17, 2024

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Comms Officer

BT Daily News, March 16, 2024 and March 17, 2024

Bargaining Team’s Work Over the Weekend  

Over the weekend, from Saturday, March 16th, to Sunday, March 17th, 2024, the
Bargaining Team members demonstrated commitment to their work, as usual.
Building upon the recent meeting with mediators Erinn White and Sandra Shime,
the team engaged in extensive online collaboration, focusing on refining
bargaining documents. 

To provide a more succinct view of the union’s requests in the proposal package,
the members categorized items by achievability at the moment: those the parties
are close to signing off on, what can be agreed upon, and the redline issues.

The Bargaining Team requested information from the Employer regarding
restructuring and departmental cuts within the university that occurred after
the strike began. At the same time, unionized members across the university were
asked to share any information about restructuring that they have received over
the past few months. 

During Sunday’s five-hour session, the bargaining team and CUPE executives
discussed the new organization of the proposals and strategized their approach
to bringing the Employer to the negotiating table.

And… we would like to share the email from one of our Unit 1 Bargaining Team
members in response to joining the work on the bargaining documents on Saturday:
“I can help, but I will need a few hours away today to go to a food bank. I can
assist this afternoon/evening.” 

Upcoming events 

BT Meeting – March 18 from 1-5PM: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82546415013?pwd=OG5BQ1BJK0x2Y1BVemd3Vm53bzArdz09

Executive +BT meeting – March 19 from 11am-2pm:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87692892839?pwd=eVhPOVA5ZTNPNEduWWJiS2g5dVF1dz09

Negotiations with the Employer (To Be Determined)


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Posted in Uncategorized


BARGAINING TEAM DAILY NEWS, MARCH 15, 2024

Posted on March 17, 2024 by Comms Officer

BT Daily News, March 15, 2024

Today’s Events and Meetings

The bargaining team (BT) members had a meeting with the ministry-appointed
mediators, Erinn White, and Sandra Shime. Our legal counsel was present at the
meeting as well. The discussion revolved around the necessary steps to get to
the bargaining table and freely negotiate the contract our members need.

BT members participated in the picket lines today, engaged in discussions with
the 8th line CUPE members to coordinate strike research and communication
projects, and continued preparing documents relating to restructuring.

Negotiation Process – Breakthroughs or Challenges

In their meeting with the government-appointed mediators, the BT members spoke
about our position on wages in relation to the economic hardship facing members.
We also reaffirmed our right to freely negotiate a contract at the bargaining
table. The mediators continue to express skepticism about reaching a deal based
on current Union proposals. The Union will be working through the weekend on new
steps to restart bargaining.

The BT wrote to the Employer to express disappointment that the Employer reneged
on their willingness to meet at the table. The BT emphasized their willingness
and availability to return to the table as early as this weekend.

At the end of the day the Employer responded, claiming that they are prepared to
return to the negotiating table. However, they indicated that they are awaiting
CUPE 3903’s salary counterproposals to their previous offers from February 7 and
21. This continues to be a stalemate of the Employer’s making, with the Union
having moved in two out of three monetary areas (benefits and funds). It is the
Union’s March 9 streamlined packages that are the most current ones on the
table, and to which the Employer must respond.

Upcoming events 

 * BT Meeting – March 18 from 1-5PM: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82546415013?pwd=OG5BQ1BJK0x2Y1BVemd3Vm53bzArdz09

 * Executive +BT meeting – March 19 from 11am-2pm:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87692892839?pwd=eVhPOVA5ZTNPNEduWWJiS2g5dVF1dz09

 * Negotiations with the Employer (To Be Determined)


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Posted in Uncategorized


BARGAINING TEAM DAILY NEWS, MARCH 14, 2024

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Comms Officer

BT Daily News, March 14, 2024

Today’s Events and Meetings

The BT members had several meetings throughout the day discussing responses from
the Mediator and the Employer. Some BT members were also on the picket lines
talking to members.

The BT attended the Special General Membership Meeting and answered questions
the members had regarding the Bargaining strategy.

The BT contacted Erinn White, the Mediator, and arranged a meeting for the
morning of March 15.

Negotiation Process – Breakthroughs or Challenges

The BT members started their day with the receipt of an email from Mediator
Erinn White, stating that “there is no likelihood of reaching a settlement based
on what is on the table.” 

In response, the BT expressed willingness to return to negotiations in a letter,
emphasizing a shared concern for students and the urgency to reach an agreement.
Our letter also noted that our streamlined proposals involve a significant
reduction in our demands on benefits and collective agreement funds, aiming to
keep the bargaining process moving forward, as well as noting several sign offs
and proposals where both parties are close in agreement.

In the afternoon, the BT received a letter from Dan Bradshaw waffling on their
willingness to return to bargain, indicating that “despite willingness to
negotiate, the mediator sees no potential settlement without CUPE’s response to
salary proposals,” and that the Employer seeks guidance from Erinn White.

The BT has made themselves available for meetings with the Employer starting on
Friday March 15th, stressing urgency due to the impact on workers’ and students’
access to education and livelihood. Relevant parties, including Conciliator
Erinn White, Sandra Shime, Leanne De Filippis, YUFA, YFS, and YUGSA, were copied
in the communication.

Upcoming events 

 * BT-only Meeting with Conciliator Erinn White – March 15
 * BT Meeting – March 18 from 1-5PM: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82546415013?pwd=OG5BQ1BJK0x2Y1BVemd3Vm53bzArdz09

 * Executive +BT meeting – March 19 from 11am-2pm:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87692892839?pwd=eVhPOVA5ZTNPNEduWWJiS2g5dVF1dz09

 * Negotiations with the Employer (To Be Determined)


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Posted in Uncategorized


BARGAINING TEAM DAILY NEWS, MARCH 13, 2024 

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Comms Officer

BT Daily News, March 13, 2024 

What were today’s events or meetings?

Today, the BT members participated in the following:

 * Townhalls of Units 1, 2, and 3 caucuses where they discussed wages, job
   stability, and other questions/strategies.
 * Picket lines had several Bargaining Team members actively engaging with
   members on the ground.
 * Working on the bargaining strategy after both of the town halls in
   preparation for the SGMM (Strike General Membership Meeting)
   

Negotiation process – breakthroughs or challenges

We have some news about bargaining:

 * The Bargaining Team sent several potential bargaining meeting dates to
   initiate a return to the table after the member approved a streamlined
   package on March 7 for all three units. 
 * We received an email from the Employer signaling they are willing to return
   to the negotiating table based on our suggested dates, and we have offered
   additional dates for this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to get back to the
   bargaining as soon as possible. We will mark those dates on the calendar once
   the Employer and the Conciliator have confirmed. 

Upcoming events


 * BT Meeting – March 18.

 * Executive + BT meeting – March 19.

 * Negotiations with the employer – To Be Confirmed!


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BARGAINING TEAM REPORT ON THE FOCUSED PROPOSALS PACKAGE

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Comms Officer


BARGAINING TEAM REPORT ON THE FOCUSED PROPOSALS PACKAGE

March 7, 2024


GENERAL BACKGROUND

This past Sunday, March 3, members of the 3903 Bargaining Team met with Erinn
White, the government-appointed conciliator. We emphasized the movement that we
made at the table just before the strike started (a sign off and some
counterproposals that the Employer has yet to respond to), noting that these are
just some of the ways the Employer is stalling and refusing to bargain.

The Bargaining Team has been working hard to put together a comprehensive
counteroffer to try to restart bargaining. Since our last General Membership
Meeting on February 29, 2024, we’ve reviewed all the proposals to come up with
focused packages on all-units and unit-specific proposals. Our method in the
review has been to consider which of our proposals will benefit the most
members; which of our proposals will benefit the most marginalized members in
units 1, 2, and 3; which proposals represent what members have identified as red
lines; where we have been seeing movement at the bargaining table; and where
there has been no engagement from the Employer. We have streamlined and pared
down our proposals package to include mostly high and medium priority proposals
and/or proposals on which we have already had some movement from the Employer
toward the Union’s position.

At the March 7 SGMM, we will be presenting a focused package for members’
approval. To make the package more comprehensible for members, we’ve prepared
tables listing all of our remaining proposals in side-by-side comparison with
the Employer’s responses: CUPE 3903 Proposals 2023–24 (simplified, by Unit). 

Our new package consists of four sections, each of which we will be asking the
membership to vote on: all-units proposals, Unit 1 proposals, Unit 2 proposals,
and Unit 3 proposals. We are standing firm on some proposals, we are adjusting
our asks on some proposals, and we are deciding that we have taken other
proposals as far as we can for this round. Members can vote to approve the
proposal packages as they currently stand or bring amendments to modify the
content of the proposal packages. Once we have that approval from members, we
will present it to the Employer through the Conciliator on Friday, March 8. 


ALL UNITS PROPOSALS 

The All-Units Proposals section comprises all-units proposals on

 * Wages, benefits, funds, 
 * New supports and accommodations for members experiencing racial harassment,
   discrimination, and violence,
 * Other equity proposals

We have dropped or reduced many of our demands, including monetary demands. We
have, for instance, dropped demands for significant increases to some Union
funds (those that have comfortable and growing surpluses, including the SASSF
and Trans Fund), accepted the Employer’s offer of a 1% yearly increase for the
Professional Development and Equity Funds, and lowered or dropped some of our
benefits demands( dropped automatic enrollment and addition of coverage for
medical devices). 

In the all-units section of this package, you’ll see that we have not proposed
any movement on wages. We have not proposed any movement because we understand
wages are a top priority for members and therefore we need input from the
membership to direct our wage strategy. 

There are many points of agreement across the 3903 Bargaining Team on wage
strategy: (1) we do not think we should not move on our retroactive wages, which
aim to address the unconstitutional effects of Bill 124; (2) we do not think we
should not move on the eligibility for retroactive wages: all members who worked
during the 2020-2023 collective agreement should be eligible for these
retroactive increases, regardless of whether they currently have a contract.
Where we have differing opinions and recommendations on the Bargaining Team is
on the question of wages for the renewal Collective Agreement. In that case,
there’s a difference of strategy about whether to reduce our ask, and whether
this is the right moment to make such a move. This difference is a strategic
question about timing and how we pressure the Employer to return to the
bargaining table; it is not a disagreement about what wage increases the
membership needs or deserves. 


UNIT 1 PROPOSALS

In speaking to members on the picket lines and at the Unit 1/Unit 3 Q&A session
on March 5, many Unit 1 members expressed the need to hold firm for the time
being on our current wage proposals (an all-units strategy question that will be
decided upon by the whole membership). In turn, Unit 1 BT members have developed
a focused proposal package to re-engage the employer by trimming down the number
of Unit 1 proposals to make our monetary demands more viable. The Unit 1 members
of the BT are attempting to prioritize proposals that generate the greatest
benefit for the most members (such as wages and graduate funding) while also
seeking protections for our marginalized members (such as international
students). 

The Unit 1 membership identified wages and graduate funding as top priorities in
the bargaining surveys conducted over the summer and in subsequent general
membership meetings. Wages and graduate funding were unconstitutionally capped
by Bill 124; hence, we are seeking significant increases — both retroactive and
for the renewal collective agreement. We are proposing increases to the York
Graduate Fellowship for international students to offset the exorbitantly high
tuition fees they pay.

For the sake of reducing the size of our proposal package and focusing our
monetary demands around priority areas (such as wages and graduate funding),
Unit 1 is withdrawing the following proposals:

 * Article 15.15 – Increase the Research Costs Fund (#49)
 * Article 15.18 – Increase the Masters Bursary Fund (#50)
 * Rename and re-structure Article 10 (#65 and #68)
 * Article 12.03 – Ensure that accepting certain awards does not remove members
   from priority pool or bargaining unit (#70)
 * Article 14 – Include “mode of delivery” as part of academic freedom; give
   members right to determine mode of delivery (#71)
 * Article 15 – Flesh out intellectual property section to provide examples of
   “other creative output”

We are also amending our proposal (#51) on the York Fellowship (U1 Letter of
Agreement “Additional Funding for Priority Pool Members”). We have withdrawn the
aspects of the proposal that demand increases for the fellowship for domestic
students. We have withdrawn the aspects of the proposal that increase the
threshold at which “clawbacks” come into effect. We are still demanding an
increase to the fellowship for international students to raise it up to $10,000
and we are still demanding that PhD 6 members of the priority pool be eligible
for the fellowship. 


UNIT 2 PROPOSALS

The streamlined package of proposals specific to unit 2 is, based on what
members have identified, and conversations amongst staff and BT members.
Countering the JSP as offered by the employer has been named by members of U2 as
one of the most substantial reasons we are striking. Accordingly, the new
streamlined package includes our own ‘status quo’ proposals (73). We are
standing firm on a number of proposals: Continuation of Library and Email
services (61); Workload (74); Experience credit for participation (15.10),
Marker/grader entitlements (and tutor 3 definitions, 92 + 62); proposals around
Nursing (77, 76) and Kinesiology (LOU and LOI); improved access to the PER (86);
Post-retirement benefits, which we’ve included in the larger benefits package
(88); and Compensation for restructuring, which is particularly important in
this moment for the whole of Unity 2 (92), 

We are proposing to sign off on the Request to design a course proposal (80). We
are looking for direction from the U2 members of 3903 on Foundation course
design (63), and Class sizes (64). 

For the sake of reducing the size of our proposal package and focusing our
monetary demands around priority areas (such as wages and job stability), Unit 2
members are withdrawing the following proposals:

 * 10.04.7 Enrollment cancellation fee for Music Tutors
 * 15.15 Research Leaves
 * 15.16 Research Grants Fund
 * 15.17 Conference Travel Fund
 * 15.22 Tuition Waiver for Spouses and Dependents
 * 15.32 Credentials Leave
 * 24.02 Term of LSTAS and Compensation (adding timeline for notifications,
   etc.)


UNIT 3 PROPOSALS

Unit 3 has been waiting for a response from the Employer on the proposals that
we sent them in February. This package, sent before the beginning of the strike,
was already a “focused package,” so we have been awaiting response from the
Employer since then. Throughout the bargaining sessions, the Employer had very
little engagement with the Unit 3 proposals. We have just received a new package
from the employer today which we haven’t got a chance to review. We have our own
streamlined proposals we will plan to present to the employer tomorrow. We made
a small yet important rewording to ensure that both YUFA faculty and 3903 course
directors are eligible to apply for the GAT Fund. The changes were already
reflected in the Memorandum of Settlement and the Letter of Agreement that was
sent to the employer.  

Furthemore, Unit 3 has also withdrawn the following pieces from our Memorandum
of Settlement with regards to the GATF Grievance:

 1. The Employer shall make a public declaration acknowledging that it misled
    both the Union and the wider York Community regarding the financial
    implications of hiring a Graduate Assistant, thereby leading to the
    mismanagement of the GATF. 
 2. The Employer shall remit a penalty amounting to $50,000 to the Master’s
    Bursary Fund. FGS will dispense a $2000 award from the Master’s Bursary Fund
    for non-priority pool Unit 3 bargaining unit members who receive a Graduate
    Assistantship, until such a time that the $50,000 has been expended.


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Posted in Uncategorized


BARGAINING TEAM DAILY NEWS REPORT , MARCH 12, 2024

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Comms Officer


BARGAINING TEAM DAILY NEWS REPORT , MARCH 12, 2024

The Bargaining Team met today, on March 12,  to discuss our strategy in light of
our March 7 proposals and the expiry of the Employer’s attempt to move monetary
items to mediation-arbitration, and to try to get us to drop the majority of our
other proposals. Our discussion of the Employer’s offer reinforced our
assessment of arbitration that we conveyed to members at the March 7 SGMM: that
it is a bad offer that would only benefit the Employer. The offer, which called
for us to send all compensation items to mediation-arbitration, accept the Job
Stability Program for Unit 2, and to drop all remaining proposals, was not one
we could accept. Those present at today’s meeting agreed that the best way for
us to get a fair deal for our members is to negotiate it at the bargaining
table. 


STRATEGIC PLANNING AND NEGOTIATIONS

Yesterday afternoon, the Employer formally withdrew their most recent proposal
package but stated that they are considering our March 7 package. We remain
confident that the bargaining table is the best place to achieve the new
Collective Agreement our members need. Much of our meeting today was devoted to
discussion of how we can put pressure on the York University administration to
do what’s right and return to the table. We also discussed the widespread cuts
to Unit 2 work that have come to light over the past couple of weeks; the
bargaining team has sought and received legal advice on the best way to
challenge the Employer’s attempt to impose drastic job cuts and restructuring of
work in the midst of bargaining—without any consultation or notification.  


ACTIONS AND STRATEGIES

Following the members’ discussions and our lawyer, Mae Nam’s, advice, the
Bargaining Team is developing a strategy. The meeting was adjourned with tasks
related to that strategy, as well as tasks outlined to prepare for the Special
General Membership Meeting (SGMM) on Thursday, March 14 from 5-8PM.

As well as discussing the process around our new plan for the bargaining team to
provide daily updates during the strike, we discussed bargaining dates for next
week. We have communicated these dates to the Conciliator and the Employer. See
below for further details of when our next prep meeting will be, and when we are
making ourselves available to the Employer to bargain. In the meantime, a
reminder that members and supporters can use this tool to urge the Employer back
to the table to bargain a deal that will ensure our members do not have to live
in poverty.

In order to provide members with the most up-to-date information on the
activities of the bargaining process during the strike, the Bargaining Team will
also provide frequent updates on our activities. 


NEXT BARGAINING TEAM MEETING

Our next meeting will be on Monday, March 18 from 1-5PM. All members are welcome
to join using the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82546415013?pwd=OG5BQ1BJK0x2Y1BVemd3Vm53bzArdz09 

We have also sent the following dates the Employer and the Conciliator in hopes
of returning to the bargaining and we will make these dates available on the
CUPE 3903 website as soon as we hear back from them: 

 * Tuesday, March 19, 10AM to 5PM
 * Wednesday, March 20, 10AM to 5PM
 * Thursday, March 21, 11AM to 5PM


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Posted in Uncategorized


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UPCOMING EVENTS

Mar
19
Tue
4:00 pm Strike Committee Meeting
Strike Committee Meeting
Mar 19 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
During the ongoing strike, the Strike Committee will be meeting twice weekly, as
per our strike policy. Our next meeting is 19 March, starting at 16:00-18:00. If
you have any questions or want to add anything to the agenda, please … Continue
reading →
Mar
20
Wed
all-day Undergraduate Outreach Day!
Undergraduate Outreach Day!
Mar 20 all-day

Undergraduate Outreach Day! Join fellow members in a mass, coordinated outreach
to our undergraduate students throughout the day on March 20! This is an
opportunity to explain the strike from our own perspectives, rather than letting
York shape the narrative … Continue reading →
3:30 pm Strike Special General Membershi...
Strike Special General Membershi...
Mar 20 @ 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Now that we are on strike we need to have weekly Special General Membership
Meetings, according to our bylaws. At this meeting we will be discussing strike
and bargaining updates, and voting on important union business as it arises. All
members are strongly … Continue reading →
Mar
21
Thu
11:00 am Joint Bargaining Team and Execut...
Joint Bargaining Team and Execut...
Mar 21 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
This is a joint Bargaining Team and Executive committee meeting to focus on
bargaining strategies and union business. All members are welcome to join. Time:
Mar 21st, 2024, 11:00 AM, Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom
Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87692892839?pwd=eVhPOVA5ZTNPNEduWWJiS2g5dVF1dz09
 Share this:FacebookTwitter
Mar
22
Fri
2:00 pm Strike Committee
Strike Committee
Mar 22 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
During the ongoing strike, the Strike Committee will be meeting twice weekly, as
per our strike policy. Our next meeting is 22 March, starting at 14:00-16:00.
Zoom link is forthcoming. If you have any questions or want to add anything to …
Continue reading →
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