Striking York University workers reach tentative deal

The union representing striking academic workers at York University and the university administration have reached a tentative deal that could bring an end to a strike that's now entered its eighth week.

A representative of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3903 said the tentative agreement was struck Sunday night.

"For the first time in seven weeks, there is a potential deal in sight for workers on the picket lines at York University," the spokesperson said in an email.

"Workers will now make a decision to accept or reject the offer through a ratification vote by the end of the week. More details on that will be to come."

Some 3,000 contract instructors, teaching assistants and graduate assistants walked off the job on Feb. 26 after contract negotiations with the university broke down.

The union said the primary issues were about affordability, job security and workplace equity.

Among the several items in the tentative deal, the union said the university agreed to increase wages that also take into account the 2018 cap the provincial government placed on salary increases for broader public sector workers, limiting them to one per cent a year for three years. That law was deemed unconstitutional in February.

"Our final wage gains over the six years of the Bill 124 period (2020--23) and the renewal collective agreement (2023--26) are well below both what we were seeking and what our members deserve," the union wrote.

"But at 14.8 per cent (or 17.8 per cent, inclusive of the 1 per cent per year already earned during the Bill 124 period), they are sector leading and that itself is an achievement."

The union said the university also agreed to increase financial support for several funds including one for mentorship and another to support racialized members experiencing violence, harassment or discrimination.

A spokesperson for York University confirmed that a tentative agreement was reached, but declined an interview request.

More than 3,000 teaching assistants, graduate assistants and contract instructors have been on strike for 8 weeks. (Robert Krbavac/CBC)

"York University is proud of our long record of leadership in offering among the very best packages of wages, benefits, and other supports to its contract faculty, teaching assistants, and graduate assistants, compared to other institutions across Canada," Yanni Dagonas wrote in an email.

CUPE 3903 communications officer Erin McIntosh said the union fought "tooth and nail" to negotiate benefits at the bargaining table.

"We have been out here fighting for a significant wage increases in the aftermath of Bill 124," said McIntosh.

"We've been fighting to protect our existing job stability programs, which have been put under risk, and we have won on that front. And then we've also just been fighting for [a] more equitable workplace through better increases to funds that have tangible supports for members and make this university more accessible to everyone."

Members of CUPE 3903 taught more than 50 per cent of classes at the university, which has a student body of about 55,000.

McIntosh said if the agreement is accepted by members the union will be negotiating a plan to get back to the classroom, which will include remediation options for students whose academics were affected by the strike.

Student 'optimistic' about deal

York students told CBC Toronto last week they were eager for a conclusion to the standoff as exams for classes not impacted by the strike got underway.

Karina Kofman, a third year biology student, said she's optimistic the agreement will bring about an end to the strike and allow her to receive all her credits so that she can graduate this year and pursue professional school.

Exams for those classes not impacted by the strike have begun. The exam period is scheduled until the last week of April. (CBC)

Kofman said the strike forced the full cancellation of two of her courses, while other classes have continued lectures but stopped labs and tutorials, which require teaching assistants. Some of her assignments have been reweighted and exams have been moved online, she said.

"There was a lot of uncertainty throughout the strike on how my academics would be impacted, how will I make up the lost work, but now I have hope," she said. "It definitely does relieve a lot of the worry."

Kofman said she looks forward to hearing from the university administration about next steps as soon as the deal is finalized.