Information from CUPE

Information from York

Updates from Winters

Thursday 4 December

1.  Today, Thursday, Workshop: "Presenting with Confidence" with Briony Glassco 10:00 and 12:30 Senior Common Room 021 Winters College.

2. Remember that only classes are suspended during the strike. All student services and academic offices are up and running at the usual hours.  Questions academic, financial and personal will be answered at appropriate offices by e-mail, by phone or in person.  You will find numbers and addresses of Departments at: http://mocha.yorku.ca/atlas/servlet/atlas or, if you are clever than I, by cruising York's web-site.  The best place to start for financial matters is the Bennett Centre.  With fewer students now on Campus service will be very fast wherever you need help and advice.

Thursday

TODAY

4 December

10:00 and 12:30

Workshop

"Presenting with Confidence"

Briony Glassco

  More  Information        R.S.V.P.

Senior Common Room

021 Winters

Wednesday 3 December

1.  Here is a note sent by Dean Robert Drummond to a Professor in Humanities and then distributed to members of the Division.  Dean Drummond is the Chair of the negotiating team for the University in this strike (and types with two fingers as does the present commentator whose dysdactylic errors have appeared in these communications now completing their 4th week.)  drummond.htm

2.  York again has recast its strike Tool Kit which contains most of the relevant links to sites with information from York. http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=11644

3. If you have not already done so, let us know if you plan to attend tormorrow's, Thursday's, Workshop "Presenting with Confidence" with Briony Glassco.  R.S.V.P.

4.  York has also circulated an editorial from the Toronto Star from yesterday:

http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=11643

Tuesday 2 December

1.   Statement from York: http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=11639

2.  It would appear, unofficially, to a seasoned veteran that classes will not resume this month.  Never-the-less students who must leave for jobs should follow the same sensible procedure outlined yesterday for those needing to travel.  Send a note to your instructors with a copy to chairs of appropriate departments before you leave.

3. If you have not already done so, let us know if you plan to attend Thursday's Workshop "Presenting with Confidence" with Briony Glassco.  R.S.V.P.

4.  Statement from CUPE: cupe-02-dec.htm

5.  Update from York on cost of settling: http://webapps.yorku.ca/NegotiationsUpdates/doc/Highlights%20of%20the%20latest%20proposal.pdf

6.  Update on Senate Policy: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/Strike2008/Dec2Bulletin6.pdf

7.  Update from York: http://webapps.yorku.ca/NegotiationsUpdates/doc/Communication.pdf

8. Questions about refunding tuition seem as reasonable as binding arbitration to end the strike.  In each instance the situation, as things stand, would have to be changed by Provincial legislation.  As long as the term is suspended but not cancelled the University can not be deemed not to have fulfilled its contract agreed upon when you paid tuition.

Monday 1 December

1. Statement from CUPE: cupe-01-dec.htm

2. Strike Toolkit from York: http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=11623

3.  Everyone who has tickets for going home should go home on the date that was planned.  Those who need to make arrangements should do so.  If you cannot send a note to each of your instructors letting them know that you have left, send the note to the Department.  In fact, you should copy notes sent to your instructors about your leaving to the chairs of relevant Department.  You may find addresses in the York Atlas: http://mocha.yorku.ca/atlas/servlet/atlas

4. As stated many times before, I know of no instances from the past where York students have succeed in having tuition and fees refunded because of strikes and suspended classes.

5.  Don't forget Sinfonia Toronto in concert today at 5:30 -FREE!

6.  The term, like negotiations, has been suspended not cancelled.  It will continue after the strike has ended, provided, of course, that negotiations continue!

Sunday 30 November:

1. Statement from CUPE:cupe-30-nov.htm

2. Statement from York: http://webapps.yorku.ca/NegotiationsUpdates/doc/Communication.pdf

3.  Press release from York: http://www.yorku.ca/mediar/archive/Release.asp?Release=1565

4. Questions about when the strike will end and what will happen concerning arrangements that students have negotiated for the end of term or the end of the year can no be answered with any certainty by anyone. Your circumstances will be addressed by the University Senate and by appropriate Offices, if necessary on an individual basis

5.  Don't forget Sinfonia Toronto in concert tomorrow -FREE!

Saturday 29 November

The latest from CUPE may be found at: http://www.yorku.ca/pswarney/Winters/cupe-28-nov

There is nothing new from the University.

Those who have negotiated jobs for the end of term will have a good case for consideration should the strike end in time for a return to classes in December.  This is not an official pronouncement but one from a source who has been around universities for a long time!  The strike may seem unreasonable to many students; the return to classes and exams will, however, be reasonable and understanding of special considerations.

Some [[No]] news is good news(?)
Friday 28 November

1.     10:00 Nothing has emerged from yesterday's [Thursday's] advertised meeting between the University and the striking Graduate Students and Contract Faculty.  This may mean that they are still talking. 

10:30  CUPE's website from last night  states that negotiations continue!: http://www.3903strike.ca/3903-negotiations-update-nov-27

2.     The question about access to studio space and rehearsal rooms has come up yet again.  Please tell anyone who tells you that spaces  are not available that you have been advised to inform Dean Zatzman if you are refused access to studio spaces. Send a note to Associate Dean Belarie Zatzman bzatzman@yorku.ca if you are refused.
 

3.     About all that can be done by students to speed the progress of arbitration and settlement of the strike would be to organize yourselves to counter the impression given by YSF that students support the strike.   Threatening to leave  York for another university looks dramatic in theory but in practice requires a lot of paperwork and formal application to another school which is not obliged to take you into the programmes that you might want.  And you will loose credit for this term's work. 

4.    Those who wish to apply for the Concurrent Programmes in the Faculty of Education may wish to look at the application procedure and spend this "free" time assembling all that is needed and preparing your statement that must accompany the application.  Remember also that you must demonstrate experience with young people of the ages that you wish to teach. For complete information and deadlines follow the link to education given below

Important reminder for students in their final year:    

   The deadline for applications to the consecutive programme in the Faculty of Education is today, Friday 28 November.  For more information and applications go to: http://www.yorku.ca/foe/bed/index.html.

Some brief and very unofficial notes-24 November:

1. Going home:

Unofficially and off the record I would suggest that those who are worried about booking flights home should go ahead  but be prepared to explain why you have had to do so if called upon after the strike is over.  Reasons such as the need to secure flights and transportation in advance might carry weight.  The day before you leave which should not be before the announced end of term,  send a note to your instructors letting them know why you are absent should the strike end and classes resume.  These are just suggestions!  The University will be very accommodating and will not require notarized documentation!

2. Once again I must stress that rumours are rumours. If you have excellent sources, such as the University Senate, about when the strike will end, please verify the source and share the news with us.  George next door is not a reliable source or Edna or Louise.

3. No changes have yet been announced about deadlines for applications for either concurrent or consecutive programmes in the Faculty of Education.  You should prepare applications to all concurrent and Graduate programmes according to advertised dates. Consideration may be given if you can not illicit a response from those from whom you need letters.  As in all else keep up with your work!

4. Due dates were suspended from the beginning of the strike until the Senate's instructions at its end.  Private arrangements with instructors are just that.  You may ignore them and appeal at strike's end.  Assignments were suspended along with classes on 5 November.  Your best bet still remains keeping up with your work as well as you are able.

5.   Many questions about assignments are asked every day.  The answers remain the same. 

A. Keep up with your work as best you can.

B. Classes, assignments, due dates and penalties for late essays were suspended on 5 November.

C. Classes, assignments, due dates and penalties for late essays will resume at the end of the strike which you may wish to view as a “virtual” 6 November.  The exact sequence of return to classes and  remediation will be determined by Senate and will be published probably with the announcement that the strike has ended or been suspended.

6.    Options, such as pass/fail, available to students after the strike, will be defined by Senate which may be preparing to circulate some possibilities shortly.

7.     Stay in contact with your instructors if they are available and willing to respond to questions that you may have for them.  Remember that only Graduate Students and contract faculty are on strike.

8.     Deadlines for applications to the Faculty of Education are 28 November for the Consecutive Programme  and 20 March for the Concurrent. For more information and applications go to: http://www.yorku.ca/foe/bed/index.html.