Hello Fellow York Students,

Here is an idea to help back to work legislation happen!

Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman has introduced a private member's bill that calls for back to work legislation to be enacted before the Ontario Legislature rises on December 11, 2008.  Once they rise for this break, the Ontario Legislature will not return until the middle of FEBRUARY.  Therefore, MPP Shurman's bill to end the strike is out best option at ENSURING that we return to class in January.  Therefore, we need get support of this bill when it is voted on.

Looking at the MPP Seats, I see that there are:

Total Seats: 107
Ontario Liberal Party:71
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario:25
New Democratic Party of Ontario:10
Independent:1

As you can see, the Liberals are strong.  We need to find a way to get Liberal MPP support.  The idea I suggest is a "networking letter campaign" where we have ALL our friends and family send letters to THEIR LOCAL MPPs to try and get support.  I suggest is typed and signed letters from individual constituents mailed to each MPP directly, but I don't think we have time to mail the letter.  SO maybe if we could personally deliver the letters to the MPP's office, or use email.  Each letter should have a verifiable name and phone number, and only one per person, to THEIR MPP.  I think this can be very effective.  I've got my entire circle of people doing this, and if your loyal supports do the same, then it will make a difference.

Also if you are a parent or grandparent your letter will carry much more weight. Unfortunately students don’t usually vote, and many politicians don’t listen to them. However parents and especially grandparents are high turnout voters. If they could send letters it would carry much more weight, especially when combined with letters from their sons, daughters and grandchildren.

For example, I'm a family of 4, adding my immediate family (Christmas dinner family) and I am up to 40 letters.   I haven't reached out to my friends in and out of York, co-workers, extended family, etc.  The trick is making the non-York student letters sound good....talking about my son, my grandson, my nephew and their bad experience with the strike.  and then the high school kids saying this is not what they want our of university in the coming years.  The key is getting as many individual letters out as possible.  When your people agree to help, you've got to get them to ask THEIR network and so out.  We need this to spread like the plague!

Below are templates of some letters.  It would be better if you personalize them, adding a sentence or too.  What is important is that you reach out to EVERYONE you know, and tell them how this helps your out.  Also, timing is very important, as December 11 is approaching very fast.  In that light, email is probably the best approach, as it gets delivered in minutes.  Actually, I now realize that FAX would be a good option too, probably more personal than email.   IF we can collectively convince the Liberal MPPs (as many as possible) to support Mr. Shurman's bill, then we can take back our education.

THIS IS IT.  IF WE WANT BACK TO WORK LEGISLATION, WE'VE GO TO ACT NOW.  THIS IS IT.  LET"S MAKE IT COUNT!!
____________________________________________________________________________________

Letter from Student

Hello [Insert MPP's name here]

My name is [insert first and last name], and I am an undergraduate student at York University.  Since November 6, 2008, I have not been able to attend my classes because of the strike by CUPE3903 (representing Teaching Assistants, Graduate Assistants and Contract Faculty).  I am extremely upset because I feel that my education is being used as a bargaining chip. 

Negotiations between the University and CUPE3903 have not made and significant progress, verified by the fact that no further negotiations are scheduled.  It is unclear when this labour dispute will be resolved, and it is absolutely unjust for about 3400 educators to deny 50000 the education that they have paid for.  While there is no progress being made, and students are facing and extended school year, a missed employment and internship opportunities, delayed completion of their courses and a delayed/missed admission to graduate studies.  In addition, there will be financial hardships for undergraduates who will incur added living expenses and increased debt.

I have been aware that Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, with the support of the entire PC Caucus, has introduced a bill to end the strike and enact back to work legislation before December 11, 2008, and I hope that the MPPs of Ontario take this seriously and support the 50000 who wish to return to class.  It is clear that both the University Administration and CUPE3903 are not capable of putting a quick end to this strike, and the undergraduate student body, your constituents and the future taxpayers of this province need their Provincial Government to support them, protect them, and take the necessary action to allow their education to continue.

Minister [insert MPPs last name here], you are my elected Member of Provincial Parliament, and I sincerely hope you value the education of Ontario's students and make your vote count with this matter.   This is clearly a situation where the Provincial Government needs to step in and do the right thing, which in this case is the implementation of back to work legislation.  The 50000 undergraduate students of York University should not be the sufferers of this strike any longer and, as a voter, I sincerely hope you take this letter seriously and do your part to put an end to the victimization of the undergraduate students.

Thank You.

[Insert Full Name Here]

[Insert Full Mailing Address Here]

[Insert City, Province and Postal Code Here]

[insert telephone number here (they may call to verify]

Letter from parent

Hello [Insert MPP's name here]

My name is [insert first and last name], and I am the parent of an undergraduate student at York University.  Since November 6, 2008, My [son/daughter] has not been able to attend [his/her] classes because of the strike by CUPE3903 (representing Teaching Assistants, Graduate Assistants and Contract Faculty).  I am extremely upset because I feel that [his/her] education is being used as a bargaining chip. 

Negotiations between the University and CUPE3903 have not made and significant progress, verified by the fact that no further negotiations are scheduled.  It is unclear when this labour dispute will be resolved, and it is absolutely unjust for about 3400 educators to deny 50000 the education that they have paid for.  While there is no progress being made, and students are facing and extended school year, a missed employment and internship opportunities, delayed completion of their courses and a delayed/missed admission to graduate studies.  In addition, there will be financial hardships for undergraduates who will incur added living expenses and increased debt.

I have been aware that Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, with the support of the entire PC Caucus, has introduced a bill to end the strike and enact back to work legislation before December 11, 2008, and I hope that the MPPs of Ontario take this seriously and support the 50000 who wish to return to class.  It is clear that both the University Administration and CUPE3903 are not capable of putting a quick end to this strike, and the undergraduate student body, your constituents and the future taxpayers of this province need their Provincial Government to support them, protect them, and take the necessary action to allow their education to continue.

Minister [insert MPPs last name here], you are my elected Member of Provincial Parliament, and I sincerely hope you value the education of Ontario's students and make your vote count with this matter.   This is clearly a situation where the Provincial Government needs to step in and do the right thing, which in this case is the implementation of back to work legislation.  The 50000 undergraduate students of York University should not be the sufferers of this strike any longer and, as a voter, I sincerely hope you take this letter seriously and do your part to put an end to the victimization of the undergraduate students.

Thank You.

[Insert Full Name Here]

[Insert Full Mailing Address Here]

[Insert City, Province and Postal Code Here]

[insert telephone number here (they may call to verify]

HS student Letter

Hello [Insert MPP's name here]

My name is [insert first and last name], and I am high school student at [insert school name here]. It has been brought to my attention that since November 6, 2008, York University students have not been able to attend their classes because of the strike by CUPE3903 (representing Teaching Assistants, Graduate Assistants and Contract Faculty).  This is very discouraging as a future university student.  I do not understand how so many students can be denied their education.

Negotiations between the University and CUPE3903 have not made and significant progress, verified by the fact that no further negotiations are scheduled.  It is unclear when this labour dispute will be resolved, and it is absolutely unjust for about 3400 educators to deny 50000 the education that they have paid for.  While there is no progress being made, and students are facing and extended school year, a missed employment and internship opportunities, delayed completion of their courses and a delayed/missed admission to graduate studies.  In addition, there will be financial hardships for undergraduates who will incur added living expenses and increased debt.

I have been aware that Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, with the support of the entire PC Caucus, has introduced a bill to end the strike and enact back to work legislation before December 11, 2008, and I hope that the MPPs of Ontario take this seriously and support the 50000 who wish to return to class.  It is clear that both the University Administration and CUPE3903 are not capable of putting a quick end to this strike, and the undergraduate student body, your constituents and the future taxpayers of this province need their Provincial Government to support them, protect them, and take the necessary action to allow their education to continue.

Minister [insert MPPs last name here], you are the elected Member of Provincial Parliament of my riding, and I sincerely hope you value the education of Ontario's students and make your vote count with this matter.   This is clearly a situation where the Provincial Government needs to step in and do the right thing, which in this case is the implementation of back to work legislation.  The 50000 undergraduate students of York University should not be the sufferers of this strike any longer and, as a [voter/future voter], I sincerely hope you take this letter seriously and do your part to put an end to the victimization of the undergraduate students.

Thank You.

[Insert Full Name Here]

[Insert Full Mailing Address Here]

[Insert City, Province and Postal Code Here]

[insert telephone number here (they may call to verify)