BY: Obaid Malik

3000 York Teaching Assistants, Contract Faculty, and Graduate Assistants have been on strike since Monday, Feb 26. They have demanded that York University pay them decent wages, provide better worker rights, and ensure job security.

The cost of living in Toronto is an issue that all Torontonians are aware of. CUPE 3903 claims that York has capped wage increases at 1% annually for three years, not accounting for inflation. This means York teaching and graduate assistants make less money each year after adjusting for inflation.

Erin Mcintosh is a teaching assistant and Graduate student at York University, “People come into this profession because they are passionate. They are passionate about learning and teaching. We’re really dedicated to the work, and many of us are students, so the academic experience has shaped our whole lives. That's why so many people are willing to come out on the picket line to fight for things that improve this for students and workers alike. As teaching assistants, we sit on both sides of that.”

Students, workers and labour leaders joined picket lines on March 6 at York Blvd and Keele St at 10:00 am. Sarbjit Kauldhar, an undergraduate student at York University, made her solidarity with the fight for a more equitable work environment for all at today’s strike rally very clear. “TAS and contract faculty do 60% of the teaching at York University. Many of us sometimes forget that to maintain and improve the quality of our education, Teaching Assistants, Graduate Assistants and Contract Faculty all need to live with security and dignity! I do hope we all respect CUPE 3903's right to strike for a more fair and equitable workplace and contract, and I, along with thousands of other students, are urging the university to return to the bargaining table ASAP and work with CUPE 3903 in good faith to finalize a much more fair and equitable contract.”