Tories end strike at York

Back-to-work legislation halts lengthy protest that affected 37,000 students

Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives ended the strike at York University.

The Tories used their large majority in the House to push through back-to-work legislation that orders almost 2,000 teaching and graduate assistants back on the job after a dispute dating to March 5.

“Our government was clear: The people of Ontario couldn’t afford to wait, and that’s why our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, acted immediately to get down to business and brought in our Urgent Priorities Act,” Government House Leader Todd Smith said Wednesday.

But ending York’s dispute with members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903, which has affected 37,000 students, was the most pressing concern.

“We appreciate that Premier Ford and his government have made it possible to end the strike and allow our students to return to their studies,” said Rhonda L. Lenton, York University’s president and vicechancellor.

The strike began on March 5 after six months of negotiations and 27 face-to-face meetings between York and CUPE 3903 failed to produce an agreement.

The university and the union also met after the strike began, including several meetings led by William Kaplan and later, with Kevin Burkett, a second mediator jointly agreed to by CUPE 3903 and York.

On June 16, contract faculty in CUPE 3903 Unit 2, representing 1,100 contract faculty, voted to accept York’s offer and return to work. However, CUPE 3903 Unit 1, representing 1,900 teaching assistants, and CUPE 3903 Unit 3, representing 130 graduate assistants, remained on strike.

Under former premier Kathleen Wynne, the previous Liberal government tried to pass back-to-work legislation before the June 7 election, but efforts were thwarted by the New Democrats. The NDP opposed the Tory move as well, blaming the almost five-month dispute on the Liberals’ level of funding of post-secondary education.

“With the Liberal government over the last 15 years not funding universities appropriately, (it) has led to difficulties with universities being able to find the ability to meet their budgets, their requirements, and so as a result tuition fees have gone up and strikes have become more frequent,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said.