On Campus

Unless York strike ends soon, classes stop Dec. 15

Fall term exams might be cancelled for nearly 50,000 students

York University says unless a four-week-long strike by teaching assistants is not over by next Monday, make-up classes and exams will be cancelled for the rest of the term.

Audio: Ontario Minister of Labour on York strike
Also read: Nervous York students demand gov’t action

Members of CUPE 3903 have been on strike since Nov. 6, keeping nearly 50,000 students out of class. According to York’s Executive Commitee of Senate, it will be impossible to reschedule classes and make time for exams before the holidays unless the dispute ends by Dec. 15.

“Unless a ratified settlement results in an end to the disruption… there will not be sufficient time to issue a notice of resumption and to conduct even a limited number of make up classes for courses that have been suspended,” reads a press release issued on the Executive Committee of Senate’s website.

Regardless of when the strike is resolved, no classes or exams will be held Dec. 20 to 23.

Negotiations between the union and York University administration broke down after only three days of negotiations. There are no additional meetings between the two groups scheduled at this time.

University of Toronto teaching assistants and lab demonstrators voted 63 per cent in favour of a strike, which was announced today. The good news for U of T students is that the union will not be able to legally strike until January, meaning all classes and exams will proceed as normal in the fall term.

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