Please Click Here to find recent news, events and information from CUPE Ontario.
TORONTO, Ont. Premier Dalton McGuinty should be telling the York University administration to go back to the bargaining table instead of introducing back-to-work legislation to end the strike by members of CUPE 3903, says CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan.
We are firmly opposed to legislation that ends the collective bargaining process, said Ryan. There is no reason to bring that process to a close when the union has tabled a much altered position.
Ryan welcomed the decision by the Ontario NDP to refuse unanimous consent for introducing legislation today (Jan.25).
The NDP is standing up for the rights of workers, he said. And, they are creating additional time that could be used by the parties to negotiate a settlement before the bill is passed. McGuinty should be telling York’s administration to get back to the table immediately instead of relying on the provincial government to do their work for them.
If McGuinty truly wants to help resolve the key issues in the strike, said Janice Folk-Dawson, chair of the CUPE Ontario university workers coordinating committee, he should put adequate funding into the province’s postsecondary sector.
With adequate funding, York wouldn’t have to deny job security and decent incomes to contract faculty who do more than 50% of the teaching. The same applies at all other universities in Ontario, she said. It’s time to address the issue of contract work in a serious way.
For more information, contact:
Sid Ryan, President, CUPE Ontario, 416-209-0066
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications, 416-616-6142
