York U custodial, maintenance and grounds workers support striking TAs, contract faculty

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TORONTO, Ont. – CUPE 1356 is asking its members –  custodial, maintenance and grounds workers at YorkUniversity –  to support the picket lines put up by striking contract faculty and teaching and graduate assistants.

 

 “It seems like the only way to get the York administration to take your issues seriously is to take a strike vote or go out on strike,” said Jack McCann, president of the local, which recently reached a new collective agreement with the university only after members took their first strike vote in 37 years.

 McCann said CUPE 1356 has been supporting the picket lines with food donations. He is also encouraging members to walk the CUPE 3903 lines before and after work in a show of solidarity. Under their own collective agreement, CUPE 1356 members must report to work during a strike or lockout of other university employees.

 

The university administration’s continuing call for binding arbitration shows disrespect for both the members of CUPE 3903 and the collective bargaining process, McCann said. “I don’t know of a CUPE local that would readily agree to binding arbitration as a method for reaching a new collective agreement,” he said. “We are committed to the process of free collective bargaining. York should go back to the table and negotiate.”

 

 

 

For more information, contact:

 

Jack McCann, President, CUPE 1356   –  647-618-4411

Pat Daley, CUPE Communications – 416-292-3999 or 416-616-6142