TORONTO, January 21, 2009 -- York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri welcomed today’s initiative by the Premier of Ontario to appoint the province’s Director of Dispute Resolution Services, Reg Pearson, to explore the possibilities of reaching a negotiated settlement between York University and striking union CUPE 3903.

The Union, which consists of teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants, has been on strike since November 6, 2008.

Dr. Shoukri said: “We welcome this initiative by Premier McGuinty which has introduced a new dynamic into the situation.  This strike has gone on for far too long and has been highly destructive for our 50,000 students.  We look forward to Reg Pearson’s involvement in the hope that it will lead to a speedy resolution.”

Premier McGuinty commented that CUPE 3903 ‘s rejection of the University’s offer in a Supervised vote on Tuesday was “disappointing”.  McGuinty made it clear that Pearson’s assignment would be time-limited “to explore the possibilities of bringing the sides together.”

 

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,
Director, Media Relations,
York University,
416-707-9574
bilyk@yorku.ca