Members with suggestions for resolutions or amendments can contact the Recording Secretary by July 2nd to submit them. National is encouraging submission of resolutions in clear language format. Each resolution should cover only one main issue and be specific in what you want to see happen. The Recording Secretary can help workshop these elements with members. The Recording Secretary will bring suggestions to the July 3rd Executive Committee meeting where the Executive will be voting on resolutions and proposed constitutional amendments to submit to CUPE National.
Court stops York’s punishment of striking workers!
In an unanimous decision the Superior Court of Ontario rules York does not have jurisdiction to arbitrarily punish workers as students thereby circumventing the Collective Agreement. In a chilling move that endangered the rights of all student-workers, York University used its Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities to circumvent worker protections and punish CUPE 3903 members for participating in lawful conduct during the 2018 strike.
In a blatant attempt to punish members for exercising their democratic rights, a senior York administrator filed Student Code complaints against five union members shortly after the end of the 2018 strike. York insisted that the five members charged under the Code were not acting as employees when taking part in actions in support of their strike. This claim was laughable and circumvented the dispute resolution processes laid out in the Collective Agreement, the Back to Class Act (which legislated the end of strike), and the Labour Relations Act. The Superior Court agreed!
“York cannot require its employees to engage in its own process so as to enforce discipline on them for acts that fall under the Back to Class Act and within the purview of the arbitrator under the collective agreement and the Labour Relations Act.” Ball et al. v. Audette et a!. and York University, 2019 par. 54
A flawed Tribunal process, that at times went so far as to deny the members legal representation, decided the outcome of the complaint. Four of the five members faced draconian penalties, including suspension of student status. For one of the members this suspension would lead to the loss of immigration status, a circumstance the courts found compelling despite York’s callous disregard. The court agreed with our claim that York’s process lacked procedural fairness.
This ruling quashes the decisions of York’s Tribunal and serves as a precedent to protect student-workers in their right to strike and engage in legal protest. We would like to congratulate our members for their courage and perseverance!
River Run 2019: Walk with Grassy Narrows for Mercury Justice!
When: Thursday, June 20th at 12pm
Where: begin at Queen’s Park, march to 655 Bay Street
Grassy Narrows First Nation was polluted with 9 tonnes of mercury in the 1960s and 94% of current residents receive zero support for their ongoing mercury poisoning. Their struggle is one of the clearest examples of what real, tangible Reconciliation means in Canada today. Walk with Grassy Narrows community members to show that you are with them at this critical moment to achieve mercury justice!
Was your LSTA not renewed? Let’s make sure York is playing by the rules!
Several Unit 2 members with LSTAs have been notified that their LSTAs will not be renewed. It looks like a very sharp increase in non-renewals. York is using a clause in the Collective Agreement that ties LSTA appointments to “departmental need” to deny our members renewal. If you had an LSTA that will not be renewed we are asking for your help to push back, and collect data on this startling rise in non-renewals.
Units 1, 2 and 3 LMC Report (Meeting of May 21st)
On Tuesday, May 21st, the union’s Labour-Management Committee met with the employer to discuss a full agenda of issues for Units 1, 2, and 3.
Many of the items that have been on recent agendas were returned to and updates requested. Since our last LMC meeting in April, little progress has been made on PER reporting for Unit 2, putting Work Histories online, making T2200 more accessible for members, and the Joint Committee on Childcare at Glendon. We also continue to wait for responses from EO’s and Associate Deans regarding the new issues we introduced last month regarding regular updating of office computers, office keys, and ensuring Unit 2 representation at department meetings.
Several All Unit Fund Deadlines on May 31st – Trans Fund, Sexual Assault Survivor Support Fund, Childcare Fund
The Trans Fund, Sexual Assault Survivor Support Fund, and Childcare Fund all have deadlines of May 31st. Members of all units are eligible for these funds and application details can be found on the fund pages.
York Changes Parking Enforcement at Keele and Glendon
Members may want to be aware that effective July 15th York University Parking Officers will be licensed under the Provincial Offences Act. This will change some of the ticketing procedures and may leave some vehicles subject to towing to a municipally-licensed impound. We’ve been told further information will be posted to parking.info.yorku.ca. You can also find details in the following Parking Memorandum.
Have you received a program extension? We need your help!
In order to protect some of our most vulnerable members, CUPE 3903 is currently asking for information from members – past and present – on their experience with successful Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) petitions for program extensions.
2019 Coalition of Graduate Employee Unions (CGEU) Conference: August 15-18
The 2019 CGEU conference will be held August 15-18 in Toronto, Ontario. CGEU 2019: Building Solidarity Across Movements is hosted by the CUPE3902 Flying Squad (University of Toronto), CUPE 3903 and the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG).
Sexual Assault Survivor Support Fund Adjudication Committee Election
TFAC is looking to elect 3 TFAC members to adjudicate the SASSF fund for 2019-2020 at their May 21st meeting.