York offers striking workers new “enhanced” deal

According to York University administration, after five days of progress in negotiations, the union representing striking teaching assistants and contract faculty has been presented with a new “enhanced” deal that would mean a total raise of 10.7 percent over three years.

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Alex Bilyk, media relations director for the university, says they are asking CUPE 3903 to present the new offer to its membership for a ratification vote at the earliest opportunity. He says the offers include a 9.25 percent increase in wages plus “significant benefits and other improvements over the term of the new three-year collective agreements.”

In a press release issued Jan. 7, the university says its settlement offer addresses the key priority areas identified by CUPE 3903, namely:

• Enhanced job security for contract faculty through 22 new full-time faculty positions
• Further increases in Funds to reflect recent membership growth
• Indexation of Funds to address any future membership growth
• Tuition protection for the full term of the new collective agreements
• Increase in minimum guaranteed funding for graduate teaching assistants

The administration says it “firmly believes that these comprehensive offers for settlement of 10.7% over three years are fair, responsible and sustainable – particularly in this worsening economic climate” and is urging the union to accept the offer for the sake of the school’s 50,000 students.