Well it is Christmas eve and I hope that you are all taking the time to enjoy your families and friends in whatever celebration you adhere to.
Best wishes to all for the New Year.
Andrea
FYI
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Monday, December 15
11:00 AM - Mass Rally and Teach-In, Keele Campus
Assemble at: York Boulevard Picket
The rally will assemble at York Blvd, before marching to Vari Hall where teach-ins will be held on the subject of popular education. Other actions may also occur. This is organized by the Flying Squad and Undergraduate Allies.
---
Tuesday, December 16
11:00 AM - King and Bay Block Party
Assemble at: South-East corner of the King St. and Bay St. intersection, downtown (one block west of King subway station)
In order to bring awareness of the CUPE 3903 strike to the public, we will have a Block Party to provide the public with information in order to counter the misinformation and propaganda generated by York University. We will hand out fliers, march across the intersection during pedestrian lights, and have an afternoon of entertainment by 3903 members in theater troupes, musicians, and bands!!! If you are interested in performing at the Block Party please contact Simon [simongarth@gmail.com].
Following the Block Party we will be marching through the downtown area along the sidewalks past York's lawyer's office ending up at Nathan Phillips Square. The purpose of this event is to inform and entertain—not to disrupt or prevent the public from their activities. Let's use this event to bring CUPE 3903's presence to an area that contain's York's union-busting lawyers and is highly populated with the offices of York's major corporate donors!
This event is organized by the Chimneystack and Sentinel picket lines.
---
Wednesday, December 17
12:00 PM - Caroling Snake March, Keele Campus
Assemble at: York Boulevard Picket
We will be marching through campus singing reappropriated carols, spreading holiday cheer and reminding people that we've been ready to negotiate for weeks while the administration has sat on its hands. This event is organized by the Shoreham and Northwest picket lines.
4:00 PM - GMM at Meron Banquet Hall, 1600 Steeles Avenue West
---
Thursday, December 18
11:00 AM - Board of Governors Information Pickets, Downtown
Assemble: Outside First Canadian Place, NW corner of Bay and King St intersection (one block west of King subway station)
We will set up soft, information pickets outside one or more buildings containing the offices of high-placed members of York's Board of Governors, with the intention of informing the public about the employer's intransigence, embarrassing BOG members, and maybe gaining some media attention. As with all the week's actions, the ultimate aim is to build pressure on the administration to start working constructively with us towards a collectively bargained solution. This action is organized by the Founders and Main Gate picket lines.
---
Friday, December 19
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Mass Picket at Glendon College, with BBQ
Assemble at: Glendon College Main Gate, 2275 Bayview Avenue (Bayview and Lawrence Avenue East)
Let's show our most remote picket line some love, as for the past six weeks they've been responsible for holding down an entire campus on their own, cooking their own food and sometimes hiding their equipment in the forest overnight. This event is organized by the Glendon and Pond Road picket lines.
How to get to Glendon -- TTC Buses:
11 Bayview (from Davisville or Bayview subway station)
124 Sunnybrook (from Lawrence station)
162 Lawrence-Donway (from Lawrence station)
Evening - CUPE Strike Party, details TBA.
---
All the week's actions are also being actively organized and supported by Alternative Duties (the 9th Picket Line)
---------
YORK BOULEVARD PICKET FOOD DRIVE
During the Week of Action, CUPE 3903 will be running a food drive at the main entrance of York University. We encourage all members of the York community to participate in this initiative to alleviate hunger in Toronto by bringing non-perishable food items with them when coming to the university. Donations will be divided between the York Tenants Coalition food bank, which serves on-campus full-year tenants of York University, and the North York Harvest food bank.
The food drive will be running Monday to Friday, 7 to 5. We are still looking for union members willing to help with this project. If you are interested in helping or would like further information please contact Tom Peace at 041796p@acadiau.ca.
Monday, December 15
11:00 AM - Mass Rally and Teach-In, Keele Campus
Assemble at: York Boulevard Picket
The rally will assemble at York Blvd, before marching to Vari Hall where teach-ins will be held on the subject of popular education. Other actions may also occur. This is organized by the Flying Squad and Undergraduate Allies.
---
Tuesday, December 16
11:00 AM - King and Bay Block Party
Assemble at: South-East corner of the King St. and Bay St. intersection, downtown (one block west of King subway station)
In order to bring awareness of the CUPE 3903 strike to the public, we will have a Block Party to provide the public with information in order to counter the misinformation and propaganda generated by York University. We will hand out fliers, march across the intersection during pedestrian lights, and have an afternoon of entertainment by 3903 members in theater troupes, musicians, and bands!!! If you are interested in performing at the Block Party please contact Simon [simongarth@gmail.com].
Following the Block Party we will be marching through the downtown area along the sidewalks past York's lawyer's office ending up at Nathan Phillips Square. The purpose of this event is to inform and entertain—not to disrupt or prevent the public from their activities. Let's use this event to bring CUPE 3903's presence to an area that contain's York's union-busting lawyers and is highly populated with the offices of York's major corporate donors!
This event is organized by the Chimneystack and Sentinel picket lines.
---
Wednesday, December 17
12:00 PM - Caroling Snake March, Keele Campus
Assemble at: York Boulevard Picket
We will be marching through campus singing reappropriated carols, spreading holiday cheer and reminding people that we've been ready to negotiate for weeks while the administration has sat on its hands. This event is organized by the Shoreham and Northwest picket lines.
4:00 PM - GMM at Meron Banquet Hall, 1600 Steeles Avenue West
---
Thursday, December 18
11:00 AM - Board of Governors Information Pickets, Downtown
Assemble: Outside First Canadian Place, NW corner of Bay and King St intersection (one block west of King subway station)
We will set up soft, information pickets outside one or more buildings containing the offices of high-placed members of York's Board of Governors, with the intention of informing the public about the employer's intransigence, embarrassing BOG members, and maybe gaining some media attention. As with all the week's actions, the ultimate aim is to build pressure on the administration to start working constructively with us towards a collectively bargained solution. This action is organized by the Founders and Main Gate picket lines.
---
Friday, December 19
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Mass Picket at Glendon College, with BBQ
Assemble at: Glendon College Main Gate, 2275 Bayview Avenue (Bayview and Lawrence Avenue East)
Let's show our most remote picket line some love, as for the past six weeks they've been responsible for holding down an entire campus on their own, cooking their own food and sometimes hiding their equipment in the forest overnight. This event is organized by the Glendon and Pond Road picket lines.
How to get to Glendon -- TTC Buses:
11 Bayview (from Davisville or Bayview subway station)
124 Sunnybrook (from Lawrence station)
162 Lawrence-Donway (from Lawrence station)
Evening - CUPE Strike Party, details TBA.
---
All the week's actions are also being actively organized and supported by Alternative Duties (the 9th Picket Line)
---------
YORK BOULEVARD PICKET FOOD DRIVE
During the Week of Action, CUPE 3903 will be running a food drive at the main entrance of York University. We encourage all members of the York community to participate in this initiative to alleviate hunger in Toronto by bringing non-perishable food items with them when coming to the university. Donations will be divided between the York Tenants Coalition food bank, which serves on-campus full-year tenants of York University, and the North York Harvest food bank.
The food drive will be running Monday to Friday, 7 to 5. We are still looking for union members willing to help with this project. If you are interested in helping or would like further information please contact Tom Peace at 041796p@acadiau.ca.
FYI
1. Meetings for next week are now up on the calendar on our website: http://www.3903strike.ca/
2. THE ECONOMY: On Wednesday Excalibur printed an article in which the union and the administration spoke to the impact of an economic downturn on the university, since the university is using this context to claim it can't afford the union's demands. The article is here: http://excal.on.ca/cms2/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&pop=1&page=0&id=6643&Itemid=#>Written
2. THE ECONOMY: On Wednesday Excalibur printed an article in which the union and the administration spoke to the impact of an economic downturn on the university, since the university is using this context to claim it can't afford the union's demands. The article is here: http://excal.on.ca/cms2/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&pop=1&page=0&id=6643&Itemid=#>Written
Holiday Pay
Hi,
Just in case you were wondering how to get paid during the holidays, I have included in this post the relevant information that I received by email in case this information has not gotten to you.
Q2: How do I report my hours during the "holiday" period?
A: Report your TOTAL hours by e-mailing holidays3903@gmail.com. In this e-mail you must include your full name, your unit, your department, the total hours and a brief overview of tasks that you have done (such as additional picket line hours that you've banked) and/or a brief list of what you will do during the "holiday" period to account for these hours.
thanks v much - questions pls call me at 416 834 7145claireunit 1 - geog
Just in case you were wondering how to get paid during the holidays, I have included in this post the relevant information that I received by email in case this information has not gotten to you.
Q2: How do I report my hours during the "holiday" period?
A: Report your TOTAL hours by e-mailing holidays3903@gmail.com. In this e-mail you must include your full name, your unit, your department, the total hours and a brief overview of tasks that you have done (such as additional picket line hours that you've banked) and/or a brief list of what you will do during the "holiday" period to account for these hours.
thanks v much - questions pls call me at 416 834 7145claireunit 1 - geog
Letter of support
Hello,
I thought that I would share this letter that I received.
Dear President Shoukri:
I am a faculty member in the Arts sociology department and I will be retired in 3 days. I have been at York since 1971 and from 1975 through until 1997 when the 8 week YUFA strike took place, I havebeen close to and often deeply involved in the negotiating process atYork.Based on all of my experience and insider knowledge of how thisprocess works, I have to say that it is time for a RADICAL change inthe way the York Administration manages its side of the process.Please understand that I am not putting all of the trouble at thefeet of the York Administration side. I know about two sides and howeither side and both sides can get stuck in their principles andpositions. I want you to know that when I have thought it necessaryin the past, I have confronted the union side, including my own unionYUFA, about its responsibility for working toward, through the giveand take of negotiations, the settlement of disputes.However, during one of my deep involvements in the process in the mid1980s, a senior administrator who shared responsibility fornegotiating collective agreements boldly told my side that the onlyway to bring about a resolution to our dispute at the time was forus, the union, to see if we could pull off a strike and that onlywith the pressure of the strike would there be any movement in thepositions of his side. This approach to bargaining has become deeplyingrained in the Administration culture at York. It predates yourPresidency and although it has been shaped from time to time bycharacteristics of particular Presidents, every President at Yorksince the early 1990s has had their term of office negatively markedby the way York handles labour negotiations .
Whatever may be theinternal reasons for the long life of this approach, York Universityand especially its educational mission and its students have beenharmed by it.I was present during the last long CUPE strike and now my formalcareer is ending in the midst of this one. I can tell you as a frontline teacher that no one benefits from this. I worked hard onorganising the two courses i began to teach in September because Iknew that they would be my last as a full-time faculty member. Theirpedagogical integrity is now seriously threatened and if the strikecontinues into January as it will surely do if an agreement is notreached now, they will lie in ruins - along with the courses of mycolleagues. We can't calculate the negative effects on students fromexperiencing one of their precious years in university this way.Imposing these effects on them is a profoundly serious matter and formy part, nothing in these negotiations is worth it.Some body has to take leadership in bringing this to an end. I knowthat you, as President, cannot in good conscience authorise thegiving away of York's financial stability to settle a strike (shakeyas financial stability can be at this time). But in reality, itcannot be argued with any credibility that CUPE 3903 is going topersist with demands that contain such a potential. I am appealinghere to your Administration's moral responsibility to take the kindof leadership that will lead to productive discussion and resolutionof the outstanding issues. Among other things, that means beingwilling to show one's hand first, so to speak, rather than waitingfor the other side to weaken its resolve. This is what I wasreferring to earlier about the York Administration needing toradically change its deep rooted habits of negotiating collectiveagreements.As a new President at York, you have a chance to make this shift inapproach and we - by which I mean not only the faculty and staff butalso our students - are calling on you to do it. In the past,Presidents have tried to stand back from the negotiating process.Having been involved, I understand how that can be a necessary thingto do - to not interfere with or undermine your own negotiators. Butyour negotiators are acting in a context. I am talking about the needto change that context and to take the lead in breaking away fromnegotiating through defensive lenses.
Sincerely,
Janice Newson, Department of Sociology
I thought that I would share this letter that I received.
Dear President Shoukri:
I am a faculty member in the Arts sociology department and I will be retired in 3 days. I have been at York since 1971 and from 1975 through until 1997 when the 8 week YUFA strike took place, I havebeen close to and often deeply involved in the negotiating process atYork.Based on all of my experience and insider knowledge of how thisprocess works, I have to say that it is time for a RADICAL change inthe way the York Administration manages its side of the process.Please understand that I am not putting all of the trouble at thefeet of the York Administration side. I know about two sides and howeither side and both sides can get stuck in their principles andpositions. I want you to know that when I have thought it necessaryin the past, I have confronted the union side, including my own unionYUFA, about its responsibility for working toward, through the giveand take of negotiations, the settlement of disputes.However, during one of my deep involvements in the process in the mid1980s, a senior administrator who shared responsibility fornegotiating collective agreements boldly told my side that the onlyway to bring about a resolution to our dispute at the time was forus, the union, to see if we could pull off a strike and that onlywith the pressure of the strike would there be any movement in thepositions of his side. This approach to bargaining has become deeplyingrained in the Administration culture at York. It predates yourPresidency and although it has been shaped from time to time bycharacteristics of particular Presidents, every President at Yorksince the early 1990s has had their term of office negatively markedby the way York handles labour negotiations .
Whatever may be theinternal reasons for the long life of this approach, York Universityand especially its educational mission and its students have beenharmed by it.I was present during the last long CUPE strike and now my formalcareer is ending in the midst of this one. I can tell you as a frontline teacher that no one benefits from this. I worked hard onorganising the two courses i began to teach in September because Iknew that they would be my last as a full-time faculty member. Theirpedagogical integrity is now seriously threatened and if the strikecontinues into January as it will surely do if an agreement is notreached now, they will lie in ruins - along with the courses of mycolleagues. We can't calculate the negative effects on students fromexperiencing one of their precious years in university this way.Imposing these effects on them is a profoundly serious matter and formy part, nothing in these negotiations is worth it.Some body has to take leadership in bringing this to an end. I knowthat you, as President, cannot in good conscience authorise thegiving away of York's financial stability to settle a strike (shakeyas financial stability can be at this time). But in reality, itcannot be argued with any credibility that CUPE 3903 is going topersist with demands that contain such a potential. I am appealinghere to your Administration's moral responsibility to take the kindof leadership that will lead to productive discussion and resolutionof the outstanding issues. Among other things, that means beingwilling to show one's hand first, so to speak, rather than waitingfor the other side to weaken its resolve. This is what I wasreferring to earlier about the York Administration needing toradically change its deep rooted habits of negotiating collectiveagreements.As a new President at York, you have a chance to make this shift inapproach and we - by which I mean not only the faculty and staff butalso our students - are calling on you to do it. In the past,Presidents have tried to stand back from the negotiating process.Having been involved, I understand how that can be a necessary thingto do - to not interfere with or undermine your own negotiators. Butyour negotiators are acting in a context. I am talking about the needto change that context and to take the lead in breaking away fromnegotiating through defensive lenses.
Sincerely,
Janice Newson, Department of Sociology
Sign up update
Hello all,
Could you please let me know if there are any changes to your availability for picketing. I would like to update the schedule for December
Thanks
Andrea
Could you please let me know if there are any changes to your availability for picketing. I would like to update the schedule for December
Thanks
Andrea
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