At the May 9 General Membership Meeting, the Bargaining Team was directed to offer a framework for settlement to the university administration.
The following invitation was sent to York University President Rhonda Lenton.
Dear President Lenton,
We are approaching the end of week 10 of the strike. In the 66 days since the strike began, we are disappointed that the employer has only made a single effort to return to the bargaining table.
It is now time for the university to show leadership and come back to the bargaining table, respect the collective bargaining process, and negotiate a fair settlement.
We, the bargaining team, have been asked by our membership to present the employer with a new framework for settlement. We ask you to engage with this framework through independent mediation. This offer is without prejudice and expires on Monday, May 14.
The offer of settlement that was sent on May 7 has not been accepted. However, we are glad to see that the employer is willing to move. This shows that the impasse which you have spoken about at length is clearly broken, if it ever existed. Let’s work together to fashion that into a deal and ensure that our students are able to complete the winter and summer terms.
A forced ratification has failed. Back-to-work legislation has failed. While the university wasted several weeks waiting for these strategies to favour the employer, that time could have been better spent bargaining and negotiating a deal at the table.
The refusal to bargain is not working for anyone. A significant portion of faculty councils, departments, and graduate student’s associations have voted in favour of non-confidence motions against the Board of Governors and your handling of this strike. In fact, on May 9, governor McFadden signed a pledge in favour of the university returning to the bargaining table in good faith.
For the sake of the students, if not of the finances and reputation of the university, we ask that you do not wait any longer. CUPE 3903 has been willing to bargain for weeks. We believe there is an end in sight for what has been a difficult time for the entire community.
We await your response.
Sincerely,
CUPE 3903 Bargaining Team