Dec 4, 2008
Posted By SUN MEDIA
Catherine Divaris feels Grinched.
Divaris, was one of about 50 York University students with coal in hands and Santa hats on their heads at Queen's Park yesterday asking the province to instate back-to-work legislation after teaching assistants and other staff have been on strike for four weeks.
"We want the premier to know we're serious -- this is so frustrating," said Divaris who helped organize the rally.
"It's our education that's being toyed with here and we need the province to step in and help the students."
MPP Peter Shurman was at the rally and said he plans to implement a private member's bill for back-to-work legislation.
"If the Grinch is going to steal Christmas he's not going to do it through you," said Shurman to the students.
Talks held through a mediator between CUPE 3903 and the university were suspended this past weekend as the two groups couldn't reach agreements. The union, which represents 3,200 of York's teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants want better job security and a wage increase of 11 per cent over two years among other things, while the university has offered a wage increase of 9.25 per cent over three years and more full-time contract work.
"I'm just trying to graduate," said Christina Chewchuk, a 5th-year Science and History student.
"We just want to get back to class."