A timeline of the events in the bitter teaching assistant strike that has affected 50,000 students at York University.
(Background: Oct. 26, 2000 to Jan. 10, 2001 - CUPE Local 3903 at York goes on strike)
Nov. 6, 2008 - CUPE Local 3903 goes on strike, leaving about 50,000 students out of class
Nov. 20 - University announces courses will have to be adjusted as strike passes second week
Nov. 24 - About 230 exchange students with the Schulich School of Business resume classes
Nov. 27 - University and union meet with a mediator, union tables offer
Dec. 1 - Osgoode Hall Law School resumes classes for 870 students in its Bachelor of Law program
Dec. 2 - Students rally at Queen's Park for end to strike. Ontario Ministry of Labour mediator Greg Long suspends negotiations, saying the school and the union are still far apart, asking them to review their positions on the issues
Dec. 15 - Striking teaching assistants stage sit-in protest at university president's office
Jan. 3, 2009 - Union and York resume talks after about a month with no negotiations. Talks continue to Jan. 5
Jan. 6 - York students sign massive petition pushing both sides to work together
Jan. 7 - University offers new contracts for all three of the union's bargaining sections
Jan. 9 - Union votes to reject school's offer of 9.25 per cent wage increase over three years and improved job security measures and benefits. York asks province to force supervised vote on offer, as only 500 of union's 3,000 members took place in the the contentious vote
Jan. 13 - An opposition demand to recall the Ontario legislature to order an end to the strike is dismissed Tuesday. The Liberal government says it prefers the two sides reach a negotiated settlement
Jan. 21 - While continuing to resist pressure to legislate striking union members back to work, the provincial government gets involved by assigning its top mediator to help the two sides work together
Jan. 22 - York senate approves decision sending 5,000 business, teaching and liberal studies students back to class beginning Monday, Jan. 26.
Jan. 23 - Striking Union tables a counter-offer to the administration as the two sides prepare to resume talks
Jan. 24 - Mediator says sides are too far apart. Premier Dalton McGuinty announces plans to introduce back-to-work legislation at a special session on Sunday, Jan. 25
Jan. 25 - NDP stalls back-to-work legislation with lack of support for the bill
Jan. 27 - Union protesters clash with police during demonstation at Queen's Park. Four people arrested
Jan. 29 - Legislature passes back-to work legislation
Feb. 2 - York students go back to school
