Dec 4, 2008
They came in the wind. They came in the cold. They came holding signs, wearing garlands of gold.
Dozens of York University students dressed in Santa hats held a Grinch-themed demonstration outside Queen's Park yesterday, demanding government intervention in ending the 28-day strike by teaching assistants and contract faculty.
Dec 03, 2008 04:30 AM
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Rob Ferguson (The Star)
Queen's Park Bureau
Pressures are building on the Ontario government to bring in back-to-work legislation to end a strike that has idled classes at York University since Nov. 6.
Students protested at Queen's Park yesterday and a Progressive Conservative MPP introduced a private member's bill to order 3,400 teaching assistants and contract faculty back to the classroom.
"It's been far too long for York students," said MPP Peter Shurman (Thornhill), whose bill would impose a legislated settlement on members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3903.
Shurman slammed the government for "inaction" and called on Colleges and Universities Minister John Milloy to help students by "salvaging what's left of their academic year."
Private member's bills are rarely passed. Shurman said his bill did not specify any settlement details.
Milloy and Labour Minister Peter Fonseca brushed aside the push for back-to-work legislation, which would lead to an arbitrator settling the contract dispute.
"I appreciate the frustration," Milloy said. "We continue to call on both sides to put the interests of students first."
While a labour ministry mediator has been assisting with the talks, negotiations broke off over the weekend because the university and the union were too far apart. Talks were to resume yesterday.
The university has said it has offered a 9.25 per cent wage increase over three years plus benefit improvements and increased job security, but can afford no more.
Teaching assistants say that's not enough. "I can barely pay my rent," said Tyler Shipley, a doctoral student in political science who also works as a teaching assistant. "It's tough for us."
Fonseca said the ministry prefers to let both sides hammer out a deal.
"The best agreement is one that's struck at the table."