#cupe 3903

MAY 23, 2018

BY: CUPE 3903 COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Earlier today, at approximately 10 a.m., a sport-utility vehicle approached CUPE 3903 members engaged in lawful picketing at the Pond Road entrance to York University.

The driver of the SUV asked to be let in and was informed that the Pond Entrance was a ‘hard picket’ that day, with no vehicles being let in. Before picketers could advise the driver where to find the nearest available entry point, they attempted to rush the gates, pushing several picketers into the gates.

The SUV struck one picketer, who in an effort to prevent themselves from going under the wheels, suffered injuries to both hands caused by shattered glass, and was taken to hospital, where they were treated, placed briefly under observation and subsequently released.

The driver of the SUV fled the scene but has since been located by police. As they fled, they ignored security yelling at them to stop, and went through two other gates and a line of picketers.

CUPE 3903 wishes to state in the strongest possible terms that violence towards those engaged in lawful picketing activity is never acceptable. While we understand the frustration some members of the campus community feel, there is never a place in which it is okay to put peoples’ lives in danger.

York University needs to accept a share of the responsibility for today’s incident. 

Lol, wish I could tell you, but even if CUPE 3903 did go on strike it may not affect students like it did in the past as courses will be online. Unless the profs go on strike, then yes that would be a problem.

They have started bargaining their contracts, so we’ll see what happens.

I’ve experienced two strikes at York during two different degrees. I would not be surprised if there is a strike.

https://3903.cupe.ca/bargaining/

Yes, the strike is still going on for Unit 1 and 3 so picketing will continue.

An Open Letter to the Administration of York University,

This is an urgent call for York University to reverse its decision to refuse a deadline extension to Monday, June 18th, as requested by CUPE Local 3903, in order to ensure a fully accessible and transparent democratic process for the re-vote on the CUPE Local 3903, Unit 2 ratification.

As you know, polling stations are open today and tomorrow but CUPE Local 3903 proposed to extend voting till Monday, June 18th, in order to accommodate the participation of members observing the Muslim religious holiday Eid-ul-Fitr. This is a reasonable request, in keeping with the obligation of our union, and I would argue the University, to ensure a fair and accessible accommodation of members on religious grounds. Your own policy on this matter states that, “York University is committed to ensuring that all York community members, including students, staff, faculty, and visitors to the university, receive equal treatment without discrimination on the basis of creed.“

Just like we would never consider holding a ratification vote only on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day or during the first two days of Passover, it is utterly reasonable – and clearly necessary to meet the threshold of all members receiving equal treatment — to ensure that this vote does not only take place today and tomorrow, in conflict with Eid-ul-Fitr observances.

This will require York’s Administration to extend its own, and arbitrary, deadline for the ratification of the CUPE Local 3903, Unit 2 settlement by one business day. I was shocked to learn of York’s apparent refusal to meet this reasonable request to ensure an accessible re-vote.

On behalf of CUPE Ontario and our members at CUPE Local 3903, I am calling on the University to reverse its decision and allow ratification voting to take place on Monday, June 18th to accommodate those members celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr.

Sincerely,

Fred Hahn