Thousands of York University students will be back in the classroom on Monday after the union representing some 3,000 academic workers ratified new tentative collective agreements.
The deals were given the go-ahead Friday following a vote by members of CUPE 3903, bringing an official end to a eight-week strike that began Feb. 26 and caused the suspension of classes and exams for thousands of students. The union announced on April 15 that it had reached a tentative agreement with the university, but said the strike would continue until ratification by its membership.
The acceptance of the tentative agreements by the union’s three units, each representing teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants, means life at the province’s second-largest university by student enrolment should return to normal next week.
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“The strike was an incredible feat, and because of this action and the hard work of many, we were able to secure some truly meaningful wins that will immediately improve the lives of both students and workers,” the union said in a statement.
The deal covers a six-year period, including 2020-23, when wages were affected by Bill 124, the provincial government’s law capping salary increases for broader public sector workers to one per cent per year for three years. The Court of Appeal for Ontario found the law unconstitutional earlier this year.
The agreement will see wage increases of 14.8 per cent, or 17.8 per cent if the one per cent per year earned during the Bill 124 period are factored in.
The ratification also comes with a new $25,000 annual fund to support racialized members experiencing discrimination, harassment and violence; a new mentoring fund for professional development and other supports; three additional weeks of paid parental leaves for non-pregnant parents and adoptive parents; and an increased to the operating costs of the two on-campus child care centres, among other things.
“Every striking member should feel unbelievably proud of the commitment you have shown to your fellow members, and the determination we have shown as a collective in our fight for a better workplace and more just future,” the union said.
As a result of the ratification, York University has announced that courses and related academic activities suspended due to the strike will resume as part of a five-week combined remediation and exam period, which will run from Monday, April 22 to Sunday, May 26.
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The first two days back will take place online to allow for a transition period, the university said in a statement following the ratification, adding that there will be a short overlap between winter term exams currently taking place, the remediation period and the start of the summer term.
Sean Day, a first-year business student at York, said he’s concerned about the new schedule because he may be out of the country when he has a final exam.
“I was hoping I’d already have it done by now, obviously … there’s not much you can do,” said Day. “It was annoying for sure.”
More information for students and faculty is expected to come later in the week.
“For now, we look forward to welcoming you back and wish everyone a smooth transition,” the university said.
Kenyon Wallace is a Toronto-based business reporter for the
Star. Follow him on Twitter: or reach him via email: kwallace@thestar.ca.
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