University to meet with CUPE tomorrow, criticizes delay

The University yesterday issued a new Negotiations Update on the status of negotiations with CUPE Local 3903, advising that the two sides will meet tomorrow, Nov. 27. After setting out recent events, the University says a mediator met with the union on Monday, Nov. 24, and later that day asked the University to meet with the union.

"The union’s requested meeting date was Thursday, Nov. 27 – seven days after the new motion was passed by the union membership giving the union’s bargaining team the flexibility to negotiate," the University says. "Given what is at stake for our 50,000 students, this one-week delay in getting to the bargaining table does not suggest urgency on the part of the union to reach a negotiated settlement."

The University reiterated its call for binding arbitration as the fastest way of getting students back to class. See the full statement here.

CUPE Local 3903, which represents teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants at York University, has been on strike since Nov. 6.

For further information, see the Collective Bargaining Updates page and FAQs relating to the strike.