Nov 20, 2008
Thornhill
November 20, 2008 11:53 PM
By: Kim Zarzour (Georgina Advocate)
Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman has asked Premier Dalton McGuinty to ?shake this government into action? and end the two-week-old strike by teaching assistants and contract faculty at York University.
Shurman, who attended a student-led rally to protest the strike Monday, made his statement in the Ontario Legislature this week demanding Queen?s Park pass back-to-work legislation.
?It?s about time that this government took a stand and supported the students who are bearing the brunt of this strike,? the Progressive Conservative MPP said. He stressed the academic year for 50,000 students could be at risk. Classes at Canada?s third largest university have been suspended since the work stoppage began Nov. 6.
About 3,340 teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants walked off the job over wages, benefits and job security. The university has offered a 9.25-per-cent increase over three years; the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3903 is seeking 11 per cent over two years.
Shurman called the union?s demands ?out of touch? with the current economic climate.
?At a time when we?ve lost more than 200,000 jobs, while Ontarians are going without pay and businesses are closing their doors, an 11- per-cent raise over two years is an unreasonable and irresponsible demand.?