FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TORONTO, January 20, 2009—Statement of Lyndon Koopmans, co-organizer of YorkNotHostage, in response to the results of the CUPE Local 3903 supervised ratification vote: When the supervised ratification vote was announced, YorkNotHostage called on members of CUPE Local 3903 to get out and vote. We said that a high turnout was important to make the vote decisive and legitimate. CUPE Local 3903 members did get out and vote in high numbers. The union members have spoken, and we accept that a majority of union members want to stay on strike. Today is day 76 of the strike at York University. The toll on students is devastating, and it gets worse every day. Extending the school year into the summer term now appears unavoidable, which means that many students have lost their ability to compete for the top summer jobs and internships. It also means that we will have less time to work and save, and therefore less money to pay for school next year. Students also fear that the quality of their education will suffer, or that their grades will suffer when they are forced into a condensed exam period following a prolonged break in classes. Students contact us every day and tell us that they are feeling depressed or anxious. And, we are very worried that the strike will not end in time to save the school year. The union members have made clear that they want to continue bargaining. However, we cannot let this strike drag on without end. In order to save students from more suffering and harm, there must be a clear end to the strike. YorkNotHostage renews its demand that York University and CUPE Local 3903 set a deadline for the completion of bargaining. They should enter an intense phase of negotiations for the next week. At the end of one week, any sticky issues that are holding up settlement should be sent to voluntary binding arbitration. This will guarantee that the strike will end in one week. If York University and CUPE Local 3903 do not immediately agree to this proposal, then our only option is to ask Premier Dalton McGuinty to recall the Legislature and pass back to work legislation as quickly as possible. YorkNotHostage is a coalition of York University students who have joined to oppose the strike at York and fight for a fast and fair settlement of the labour dispute. We have over 4,000 supporters. - 30 - Contact: Lyndon Koopmans, E-mail: lyndon.koopmans@gmail.com |