Search
Close this search box.

Campus Unions Call On York To Negotiate with YUFA

A written document with a header featuring the logos of CUPE 3903, YUSA, CUPE 1356, and OHFA. See the text of the statement below.

Campus Unions Call On York To Negotiate with YUFA

CUPE 3903, YUSA, CUPE 1356, and Osgoode Hall Faculty Association are united in supporting the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) and its effort to negotiate a fair deal with York University.

On July 12, York University requested a “no board” report, which triggers a legal countdown to a possible lockout or strike. Despite claiming in their recent communications to have increased financial difficulties due to the CUPE 3903 strike, the university administration has not hesitated in veering toward yet another possible campus shutdown. These continual threats of labour disruptions also damage the student experience at York.

York claims that student enrollments are too weak to justify increases to faculty salaries that YUFA has requested to match the rate of inflation. Yet York does not have those same worries when it comes to the salaries of senior administration, which have increased by an alarming 47% since 2018 despite university revenue only increasing by 3% over the same period.

In its recent mass email, York blames its inability to support faculty members at the bargaining table on the “slower than expected recovery” since the pandemic began. Concerns about the impact of the pandemic did not prevent them from spending $260.5 million on building the Markham Campus over the same period.

York claims it wants to “reach consensus toward a common goal of a stable and thriving university”. Yet, continuing with its record of violating collegial governance, York is proposing to eliminate the joint committees with YUFA that would ensure consultation with faculty members about how reducing the number of courses and introducing much larger ones might impact teaching and learning.

Far from fostering a thriving university, York’s proposals to YUFA appear aimed at circumventing overwork protection, making increases to class size part of the normal routine, and freeing the senior administration of their obligation to consult faculty members and adequately research the potential impact of these changes. York must bargain in good faith with YUFA if it is truly committed to student success and what it acknowledges are the “absolutely essential” contributions of YUFA to this university.

CUPE 3903, YUSA, CUPE 1356, and Osgoode Hall Faculty Association call on the university community to support YUFA in its effort to defend employees, students, and the quality of higher education at York.

Amendments to several bylaws were voted on at the October 29th, 2024 General Membership Meeting. Thanks to all members for coming out to discuss and...

Nominations for the vacant Union Trustee position closed on October 22nd, 2024 at 5:00pm. We received one nomination and are excited to announce that Gordon...

Are you concerned about the impacts of cost-cutting in your department or hiring unit at York University? Are you worried about class sizes expanding? Are...

Please read the following joint statement by CUPE 3903, the York University Staff Association, the York University Faculty Association, and CUPE 1356 about the financial...

Please read the joint letter below in solidarity with the York University Staff Association regarding fair winter holidays for their members. Rhonda LentonPresident and Vice-ChancellorYork...

Attention Unit 1 members! You will have received an email from the Faculty of Graduate Studies regarding opting-in to receive your fellowship in the summer...

It is with great sadness that we observe the passing of Neil Livingston, a member of CUPE 3903 who made an impact on many within...

Want to know more about how the employer is unilaterally preventing dependents of international students from accessing healthcare funds? Curious what CUPE 3903 is doing...

Join our Conversion and Careers Advisor, Professor Kym Bird, for a series of workshops on preparing your application for conversion and other tenure-stream hiring searches...

Skip to content