Despite three bargaining meetings in August, there has been little movement on key CUPE 1281 demands and the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) continues to demand concessions. Negotiations are now at an impasse and CUPE 1281 filed for conciliation.
100% Strike Vote
CUPE 1281 remains committed to reaching a settlement at the bargaining table with the assistance of a conciliator.
But YUFA staff are united: all eight voted in favour of strike action if necessary to 1) protect staff from harassment & discrimination and improve health and safety; 2) resist managerial bloat and union-busting; and 3) defend our job security and layoff protections.
With this vote, these CUPE 1281 members will be in strike position 17-days after either side deems conciliation has failed and requests a no board report.
At the last bargaining meeting, CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn joined the bargaining table as an invited guest and urged YUFA’s leadership to reconsider its harmful proposals, especially at this juncture where employers are emboldened to roll-back workers’ rights.
YUFA still has time to reverse course and live up to its responsibilities to the broader labour movement. If YUFA staff are forced to strike, CUPE Ontario will support its CUPE 1281 members.
Tell the YUFA Bargaining Team to avoid a strike by YUFA staff
CUPE 1281 wants to settle a fair deal. We need your help.
Tell Professor Patricia Ellie Perkins, Professor Art Redding, Professor Anna Zalik, Professor Merouan Mekouar, Professor Ena Dua, and Professor Gertrude Mianda:
- Demand that YUFA commit to robust anti-harassment protections and protect staff health and safety
- Remove its demand to hire an Executive Director through union-busting concessions
- Direct YUFA resources and energies back to defending workplace rights and principles of democratic trade unionism
Sign, send and share this letter today!
Save the date and join CUPE 1281 for a Solidarity Luncheon with YUFA Staff on September 18th at York University.
To learn more about why CUPE 1281 staff at YUFA are willing to take strike action to defend their collective agreement, keep reading.
Harassment & Discrimination: Not Part of the Job!
YUFA staff face high turnover and increasing harassment, discrimination, and bullying.
Since the last round of bargaining, CUPE 1281 has filed multiple grievances on harassment and discrimination, some of which remain unresolved.
CUPE 1281 remains firm on its equity-focused proposals to:
- Strengthen anti-harassment protections, including protocols for safe meetings, and the right to refuse unsafe work when confronted with harassment and abuse.
- Provide modest improvements to leave and wellness entitlements.
These proposals are about restoring respect, dignity, and stability in the YUFA workplace. YUFA rejected them, even claiming they “create differential treatment” for YUFA members.
The implication is clear: staff confronted with harassment from a member must simply keep working under unsafe conditions.
YUFA’s Response: More Managers, Less Job Security for Staff
In response to YUFA’s demand to hire a non-unionized in-house lawyer, CUPE 1281 countered with a a costed proposal which would include the in-house lawyer within the bargaining unit. Instead of engaging with the union’s counter-proposal, YUFA’s bargaining team insisted that it could not bargain further unless the staff accepted YUFA’s demand to hire an Executive Director.
YUFA cannot afford these new management positions without cutting existing staff. Earlier this year, the YUFA Executive sounded the alarm about YUFA finances and even passed a special dues increase to bolster its defence fund. Yet at the same time, the YUFA Executive refused to hire a temporary replacement for staff members on leave – leaving the office short-staffed and YUFA members with reduced staff support in their disputes with York University senior administration.
Now, YUFA intends to hire an Executive Director, a move that contradicts its constitution as a democratic, member-driven trade union, adding an unnecessary and costly layer of bureaucracy.
This is not about efficiency. This is about top-down managerial control.
Concessions That Gut Protections
YUFA staff provide institutional continuity and critical support for YUFA members. Neither the YUFA Executive nor its Ogletree Deakins legal team explained how it intends to pay the salaries of a non-unionized lawyer and Executive Director.
CUPE 1281 will take the necessary steps to defend against YUFA’s concessions that weaken protections and undermine the working conditions of YUFA staff, including roll-backs that:
- Remove language requiring YUFA to act in a manner that is reasonable, non-discriminatory, and in good faith
- Strip progressive discipline safeguards
- Restrict the shop stewards from responding at critical moments
- Remove prohibitions on electronic monitoring and surveillance
- Cut staff wages, benefits and entitlements