After a month-long strike at the University of Toronto and York University, academic workers have returned to work. On Mar. 26, UofT teaching assistants organized in CUPE 3902 voted to enter binding arbitration, bringing their strike to an end. On Mar. 31, teaching assistants and graduate assistants at YorkU organized in CUPE 3903 voted to accept a tentative deal reached over the prior weekend.
Workers at both universities were able to make important advances at the bargaining table as the strike pressed forward. At York, members of CUPE 3903 were able to maintain the indexation of wages to tuition fees, an important victory of the 2001 strike that was being clawed back. Additionally, funding for graduate assistants and protections for LGBTQ workers were won.
At UofT, improvements were won in regards to funding for teaching assistants. The final agreement is now in the hands of an appointed arbitrator, as the union membership agreed to the employer proposal of binding arbitration. In general, we at Fightback do not support binding arbitration as it takes away the workers’ right to democratically determine their final contract. While we understand why many workers voted for it, the unequivocal victory at York just a few days later showed the importance of having direct control over negotiations.
Nonetheless, it should be said that the UofT administration did not want to take the road of binding arbitration, nor make any concessions. It can therefore be clearly stated that UofT workers are returning with their heads held high, having won a partial victory and made a strong show of strength.
Austerity and concessions can be defeated
The action taken by the 10,000 members of CUPE 3902 and 3903 has shaken university administrations and the Ontario Liberal government, while sending a strong message to the labour movement. That message is: austerity can be defeated through bold strike action and rank-and-file militancy.
Over the past years, especially since the 2008 crisis, concessions have been forced on sector after sector of the working class. Workers have taken cuts to wages, benefits, and pensions in both the private sector and in the public sector. Workers have been constantly told that they must accept concessions and that they must make sacrifices in the context of crisis.
After seven years of crisis, the patience of workers has reached a limit. Significant anger has built up and there is a desire to fight back. This sentiment, that “enough is enough”, was witnessed on both campuses.
By taking action, the university workers have shown the rest of the labour movement that struggle pays off. The workers were able to stave off major concessions, such as losing tuition indexation at York, and also win certain improvements. An example such as this can be dangerous to the ruling class.
