York vows `flexibility' in bid to end strike But there's `very little new money' for strikers

By Peter Small Toronto Star.  Toronto Star.  Toronto, Ont.:Apr 11, 1997.  p. A.7 

York University's administration will present a new ``flexible'' negotiating position to its striking professors to break an impasse in their 22-day-old strike.

The administration will contact mediator Kevin Burkett in hopes of getting back to bargaining with the 1,050 professors and librarians, said Michael Stevenson, academic vice-president, in an interview yesterday.

Burkett broke off talks Monday because the two sides were far apart over pay, retirement and academic quality.

``We will try to present a new position that unlocks this logjam,'' Stevenson said, adding he hoped it would be ready by the weekend. Stevenson said the administration will show flexibility but there ``will be very little new money.''

Stevenson spoke after some 400 professors and supporters marched on BCE Place to present Bill Dimma, chair of York's board of governors, with a mock diploma and offer to return to classes if he agreed to binding arbitration. The diploma conferred on Dimma the honorary degree of ``DBA,'' doctor of binding arbitration, ``if indeed binding arbitration be agreed to by the board.''

But Dimma gave reporters his answer after he met the begowned professors in the windy court in front of the Bay St. skyscraper: ``We will not be able to agree to binding arbitration for the very simple reason there is no money.'' Dimma said he sympathizes with professors, who earn on average of about $70,000 a year, because they have had no salary increase in five years.

But he added: ``They are picking the wrong party to complain to. The government of Ontario has cut funding to the university system, including York, by 28 per cent in real dollar terms over five years.'' The professors rallied earlier at Nathan Phillips Square, where speakers complained about deteriorating academic conditions, relatively low pay for many members, especially women, and of a dictatorial administration driven by a ``corporate agenda.''

They heard a statement from novelist Michael Ondaatje, Booker Prize-winning author of The English Patient, who teaches at York's Glendon College. ``It's short-sighted and foolish to apply a corporate agenda to education,'' Ondaatje said, in a statement read by another professor.

Historian David Noble said York, enamored of computers and Internet instruction, will have no classrooms or teachers in the future. ``They will have a choice of two professors, Bill Gates or Walt Disney.''

Dance professor Holly Small said money was so tight, her faculty had to hold a lottery for students to win places in their big showcase performance.

``We have cut and cut until there is nothing left to cut.''