On October 22, staff represented by CUPE 1281 and the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) met for a third time with a Ministry of Labour appointed conciliator. Instead of moving negotiations forward and responding to CUPE 1281’s counter-offer, YUFA’s bargaining team squandered over two weeks between conciliation dates and left CUPE 1281 waiting for the entire day of conciliation. Their eventual response, delivered in the evening, ignored the Union’s significant movements on October 7. YUFA also refused to meaningfully engage with CUPE 1281’s core issues: health and safety and job security.
CUPE 1281 provided a comprehensive response at the last conciliation date on October 7, including a proposal for a Staff Coordinator position. This proposal directly addresses the tasks that the Employer envisions its Executive Director would do. The Union counter-proposed the hire of an in-house lawyer earlier in the summer. Both of these counter-proposals keep work within 1281’s bargaining unit and preserve the democratic principles and structures of YUFA.
Disappointingly, in the proposal that the employer finally provided to the union at 7pm on October 22, YUFA rejected both counter-proposals and continued to demand an Executive Director and in-house lawyer outside of the CUPE 1281 bargaining unit, even while assigning these positions duties and tasks covered by the collective agreement.
YUFA’s approach irresponsibly diverts resources away from frontline services for members so it can expand management, weaken the staff union, and undermine the very democratic structures YUFA proudly advocates across the university sector.
YUFA’s approach leaves CUPE 1281 with fewer and fewer options. YUFA is pushing its staff toward a strike on Monday, October 27.
Despite YUFA playing hardball, CUPE 1281 remains committed to reaching a fair and satisfactory deal that averts a disruptive strike and allows staff to continue supporting YUFA members and strengthening the faculty association. The union has conveyed to YUFA that the union will make itself available to exchange meaningful proposals over the weekend to avoid a strike.
It’s not too late to make sure CUPE 1281 staff at YUFA show up to work on Monday morning rather than a picket line.
Deliver a strong message to YUFA’s bargaining team and Executive Committee members – President Ellie Perkins, VP Internal Art Redding, VP External Anna Zalik, Equity Officer Ena Dua, Recording Secretary Merouan Mekouar and Prof. Gertrude Mianda – and tell them to return to the bargaining table with a fair deal and avoid a strike.
