TORONTO, December 14, 2000 -- Early today, York University offered CUPE 3903, the union representing 2,100 York University teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants, a new and improved offer that addresses key union issues and significantly enhances wages, benefits and job security provisions already second-to-none for comparable unions across the country.

This offer -- which responds to priorities identified by the union -- would further improve and build on a contract that recognizes the important contribution CUPE 3903 members make to the York community, said Vice-President (Finance and Administration) Phyllis Clark, adding that she hoped the union would accept the agreement and end the strike, which today enters its eighth week. Clark said when the University tabled its generous comprehensive package, it requested CUPE 3903 to agree to recommend ratification of the offer to its membership. VP Clark added that the University has made every best effort to try to settle this strike and to remain focused on a return to learning, teaching and research in an environment of civility and stability.

The University bargaining team began negotiations with CUPE 3903 in July, and made major movements during 20 bargaining sessions before tabling Offers of Settlement Oct. 20^th in an effort to avoid a strike. The Offers, tabled in the run-up to the strike deadline, were fair and reasonable, in line with agreements reached recently with other unions on campus, and within provincial government guidelines for broader public sector employers. The contract offered on Oct. 20^th would have cemented the superior standing of York’s teaching assistants and contract faculty.

Moreover, in negotiations since the strike, and in particular during the past several days of intense mediated talks, the University made the following meaningful movement on key union issues in a sincere and concerted attempt to reach an agreement:

• In addition to the 2 % across-the-board increases to top wages, the University has offered current and future teaching assistants improved graduate financial assistance that would provide them with an additional $1,425 a year in the 1^st year and $1,500 in the 2^nd year. This represents a move from $420 to $475 per term in the 1^st year, effective Sept. 1, 2000 and a move from $475 per term in the second year, effective Sept. 1, 2001 to $500 per term. (Please note: Graduate students have also been informed that domestic tuition fee increases will be capped at 2 % a year for the next four years.)
  
•  The University offered to contribute up to $50,000 for comprehensive benefits maintenance if required, for both teaching assistants and contract faculty.
  
• The University increased its offer on job security for contract faculty, from six conversions and special renewable contracts in the second year to 10. York is the only University in Canada to give contract faculty this kind of job security.

The University offered a first contract to graduate assistants which includes:

* an increase from the original compensation offer of $4,500 in the 1^st year to $5,880 upon ratification and $4,590 to $6,500 in the 2^nd year;
* an offer to pay 50 per cent of premium in the Graduate Students Association Benefits Plan for individuals holding a full graduate assistantship;
* a signing bonus in the first year to a maximum of $600,
* additional GA financial assistance of $75 a year.

To see the full package of what was offered to CUPE 3903, please visit www.yorku.ca

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For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Director of Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
YU/130/00