York University is now officially closed. A strike by part-time workers has caused the cancellation of all classes and the postponement of all assignments. There are picket lines from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Cars are only being allowed onto the campus every few minutes and busses are letting students off at the gates. There are a few things that remain open - residences, food services and recreational facilities. Intramural games and varsity leagues are continuing as usual. And, non-credit night school classes are on.

The strikers, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903, are the 1,850 graduate students who work as teaching assistants, 550 who work as research and administrative assistants, and 950 contract faculty members who teach almost half the courses at York but do not have permanent status. York offered a wage increase of 9.25 % over three years, improved dental and health benefits and paid leaves, matching other settlements across the public sector. The union wants an 11% wage increase over 2 years in addition to better health benefits and more job security for long-term contract teachers.

York’s teaching assistants are the highest paid in Canada. They are complaining that the sector is poorly paid. Well then, get out of the sector. All of these strikers are in LALA Land. Job security doesn’t exist in the real world anymore so get with the program. And even asking for an 11% wage increase over 2 years is ludicrous. If the situation for the students wasn’t so pathetic, the irresponsible demands of the union would be comical.

No one is talking and the students are suffering. York will agree to binding arbitration, but the union will not. If need be university officials will consider stretching the first semester into January. The students are merely pawns in a game being played by union officials. When is someone going to consider them? When is someone going to end the stranglehold that megalomaniac union bosses have on our society?