TORONTO, January 9, 2001 --  In addition to the agreement reached last week with CUPE 3903 contract faculty (Unit 2), tentative settlements have been reached with CUPE 3903 teaching and graduate assistants (Units 1 and 3).

"This is great news for our undergraduate students. They can now complete the Fall Term and the Winter Term in an orderly fashion," York University President Lorna R. Marsden said. "We have achieved settlements which compensate the employees without jeopardizing the academic and financial integrity of the University.

"There are no winners this morning except undergraduates. This is their day and it's taken far too long. We are a university with a spirit of tolerance, respect and the patient pursuit of knowledge, and we must immediately return to normal academic life," she said.

On the key issue of tuition protection, an evenhanded and responsible solution was reached for the length of the collective agreement. Graduate financial assistance provides support for our teaching assistants. The Board of Governors retains the right to set tuition, meaning that the University's governance structure is not compromised.

The union bargaining team and the union executive are recommending acceptance of the offers to the membership of the two units at a ratification vote. The University will be recommending these agreements to its Board of Governors as soon as possible. The University hopes to resume classes this week.

The Senate Executive will be meeting within hours and will announce when the remediation period will begin. Announcements of the times when classes will resume will follow soon.

Students can be assured that plans for remediation for Fall and Winter class time will allow them to complete their year with academic integrity. Those who are graduating will be able to do so this spring.

The agreements followed three days of mediated negotiations.

- 30 -

For further information please contact: 
Susan Bigelow
Media Relations
York University
416-736-2100, ext. 22091