[Canada] Students sit-in at York University

re-posted from: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/12/15/ont-yorkstrike.html?ref=rss%22

Sit-in protest begins as York University strike enters 5th week

Monday, December 15, 2008 7:40 PM ET

At least 80 people are occupying the hallway outside the president's office at York University in Toronto, as they try to increase pressure on school administrators to reach a deal and end a strike by graduate students and teaching assistants that's now in its fifth week.

The protesters, who began their sit-in about 1:30 p.m. ET on Monday, said they want to meet with President Mamdouh Shoukri, and are refusing to leave until he meets and answers their questions. He wasn't in his office.

The university has said it will cancel classes for the remainder of 2008 if a new contract can't be reached by Monday night, and no new contract talks are scheduled.

Contract negotiations between the union and the York University administration began in July 2008, but since the strike, which began Nov. 6, the university has refused to bargain, the union said.

CUPE Local 3903 represents more than 3,400 members, including 1,800 teaching assistants, 900 contract faculty and 800 graduate students at York University.

The union said it's seeking a wage increase above inflation, a two-year collective agreement and job security for contract faculty among other things.

With files from the Canadian Press