CUPE 3903 still demanding 41% increase over two years
TORONTO, November 5, 2008 -- On Tuesday evening, Nov. 4, York University’s custodial, grounds and maintenance staff represented by CUPE 1356 overwhelmingly ratified a new contract that included a 9.25% wage increase over three years, plus other contract improvements. This settlement is in line with the 9.25% three-year deal recently ratified by the York University Staff Association (YUSA).
In negotiations with CUPE 3903, the union representing contract faculty, graduate students and teaching assistants, York University increased its wage offer to a comparable 9.25% over three years as part of a contract package that includes:
· tuition increase protection
· increase in benefits including dental and vision
· increase in paid leaves
· increase in wage supplementary funds.
The University also raised the possibility of long-service teaching agreements for contract faculty, which it believes would address job security concerns among contract faculty.
“We are treating all employees fairly and evenly. This offer should form the basis of contract settlement with CUPE Local 3903. There is absolutely no need for a strike,” said Dean Robert Drummond, spokesperson for the University’s negotiating team.
The union will be in a legal strike position as of 12:01am on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008.
The University also renewed its offer to the union to agree to binding arbitration on outstanding contract items to avoid disrupting students' education. So far, the union has rejected this offer.
“We all need to put the educational needs of our students first. Agreeing to binding arbitration would be the best solution for the University’s 60,000 students, faculty and staff,” Drummond said.
“The University is anxious to avert a strike knowing the harm it will cause its 50,000 students. We are prepared and willing to negotiate a fair and reasonable contract. We have offered binding arbitration. We have never considered locking these employees out,” Drummond said.
The union’s last wage demand included an 11% increase over two years, but the union is also proposing substantial increases in income support programs that supplement wages for the University’s graduate students and teaching assistants.
“We have to be transparent about compensation increases. When totalled, the union’s demands amount to a 41% increase in compensation that will cost the University $26 million. It’s simply unrealistic and unaffordable and it is completely out of line with the settlement trends at the University and around Ontario,” Drummond said.
The deans of all faculties have, in conjunction with the Chair of Senate, agreed that academic activities (with certain specified exceptions) will be suspended in their faculties in the event of a strike by CUPE Local 3903. The University’s academic leadership is of the view that most academic activities cannot continue without contract faculty and TAs.
“While we hope it will not come to a strike, the University needs to provide students with advance warning so they can make preparations for the suspension of classes in the event of a strike. We will need to communicate to all students and our institutional partners what academic activities will be suspended and what activities will continue,” Drummond said.
Background (Updated)
CUPE 3903 represents approximately 950 contract faculty, 1,850 TAs and 550 GAs.
Settlement Trends at York University and in Other Teaching Sectors
York University Staff Association: 9.25 % in three-year contract
York University CUPE 1356: 9.25% in three-year contract
Ministry of Education Provincial Framework Agreements (Education sector) for CUPE and OECTA: four-year agreements with salary increases of 3% in each year (12% over four years)
Wage adjustments in the Canadian public sector in 2008 averaged 3.3% (HRDC)
York University’s contract faculty, TAs and GAs are among the highest paid at Ontario universities with highly competitive hourly rates
GAs and TAs are full-time students, not full-time employees. They work an average of 10 hours per week. Claims by the Union that its members are paid below the “poverty line” are misleading, because these are part-time positions. Most Unit Teaching Assistants (TA’s) are currently guaranteed a minimum level of funding at a rate of $63.29 per hour.
University’s Operating Budget
The University’s three-year operating budget approved by the Board of Governors in June, 2008 calls for 2% budget cuts in each year of the three-year budget plan.
Since the budget plan was approved, the impact of the global financial crisis and associated impact on financial markets has significantly worsened our financial situation. Preliminary year-to-date results as of the end of September for the pension plan and endowment funds show losses of about 10%. This represents losses of approximately $30 million to our endowment funds and $130 million to our pension funds. The October results are not available though we anticipate them to be worse.
Employer’s Current Salary Increase Offer to CUPE Local 3903
Offering three-year contract
9.25% increase over three years
Tuition protection for graduate students for term of the new collective agreement
Improvements in dental and vision care benefits
Improvements in paid leaves
Increases in various supplementary funds
Binding Arbitration: An Alternative to a Strike if a Settlement Cannot Be Achieved
Ontario’s Labour Relations Act allows parties to refer all matters remaining in dispute between them to an impartial and independent arbitrator for final and binding determination and thereby avoid or end a strike.
York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
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Contact:
Alex Bilyk, Media Relations, 416 736 5603
Dean Robert Drummond, York University 416 824 4953
