York University teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants will be on strike as of 12:01 a.m. after overwhelmingly rejecting a contract offer Monday night.
Seventy-one per cent of the union’s 3,700 members voted against the offer, the union said.
They are expected to be on the picket line Tuesday morning.
The offer was put on the table late Sunday night, CUPE Local 3903 spokesperson Faiz Ahmed told CP24 Monday morning. The bargaining committee had recommended members reject the offer, which included a 1.5 per cent pay raise.
In a statement issued Monday night, Mamdouh Shoukri, York University president and vice-chancellor, called the strike ‘unfortunate.’
“I know that students and their parents are very concerned – I share their concerns,” it reads.
“To provide clarity to our students for the duration of the strike, we have regrettably suspended classes, with limited exceptions. However, all York facilities, including libraries, residences, computer labs, cafeterias, athletic facilities and offices will remain open during their usual operating hours.”
The statement adds that the university is committed to returning to normal operations as soon as possible, and that it values its relationship with the union.
“I am confident that, when we return to the bargaining table, we will reach a fair and competitive settlement, which will enable us all to get back to our priority of providing the best possible learning environment for our students,” the statement concludes.
- With files from The Canadian Press.
