Ontario’s university sector continues to provide organizing victories for CUPE. A bargaining unit of research and graduate assistants at York University has just been certified, making it only the second such unit in the province.
The win comes after the Labour Relations Board twice deciding this same group of workers were not employees within the meaning of the Act.
Says Organizing Rep. Derek Blackadder, “After a year and a half of proceedings and negotiations at the Labour Board, this is a particularly important victory for CUPE. The right to negotiate tuition became the issue in the campaign.”
Says Blackadder, “this successful campaign is further evidence that students employed by their universities are continuing to turn to organizing as a means of addressing the overwhelming tuition increases seen in Ontario over the last few years.”
The new unit, representing more than 800 members, becomes a component of CUPE 3903 which already has a unit representing teaching assistants, and one representing contract faculty.