After two weeks away from the table, York University has finally agreed to resume bargaining on Tuesday, March 20.
Considering that our bargaining team provided two counter-proposals that York ignored (February 28 and March 5), we are pleased to see the employer returning to the bargaining table. Their refusal to do so has unnecessarily drawn out the strike and caused students great anxiety.
We want to come to a negotiated settlement in good faith. This means that York must table counter-proposals that address our priorities. We are willing to be flexible, but this commitment must be returned. We are concerned that York’s recent communication fails to acknowledge the key issues members have indicated on numerous occasions. Our membership is keenly aware of the options provided by York, and continue to direct the bargaining team to reaffirm our priority issues to the employer.
As such, the return to the table cannot be a simple matter of optics. It’s time to stop bargaining through the media and come to the table in good faith. We hope York’s latest gesture is a new commitment not only to work with CUPE 3903, but also to do what is best for the 50,000 undergraduate students who have been left in suspense for two weeks as York refused to bargain.