Ontario Gets York Students Back To Class
January 29, 2009 3:16 PM
York University Labour Disputes Resolutions Act, 2009 Passes
The Ontario Legislature has passed legislation that requires an end to
the deadlocked labour dispute and requires York University to resume
its normal operations. The York University Labour Disputes Resolutions
Act, 2009 governs the labour disputes between York University and three
bargaining units from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903
(CUPE 3903). The act comes into force on Royal Assent.
The legislation requires any strike or lock-out at York University to be terminated immediately. Striking York University workers are required to return to their jobs.
All outstanding issues are referred to binding arbitration. York University and CUPE 3903 have five days to agree on an arbitrator, or one will be appointed by the Minister of Labour.
QUICK FACTS
- Collective agreements between York University and CUPE 3903 union expired on August 31, 2008. The strike by approximately 3,400 workers began on November 6, 2008.
- The arbitrator will have the exclusive power to determine all matters necessary to conclude a new collective agreement, and also will have the ability to assist the parties in settling any related matter.
Ministry of Labour
ontario.ca/labour
ontario.ca/labour
"Our government respects and believes in the collective bargaining process. It is only in rare circumstances like this one that government intervention should occur. At the end of the day, it’s about the students. This legislation gets 45,000 of Ontario’s best and brightest young people back to their studies after almost 3 months."
– Peter Fonseca
Minister of Labour
Communities
