With just two weeks left of class, Canada’s two largest universities – the University of Toronto and York – are scrambling to complete the school year without those who do most of the marking and exam preparation.

In a narrow but dramatic weekend vote, U of T teaching assistants rejected the university’s latest offer and are expected to step up pickets Monday morning.

At York, where classes are supposed to be up and running as of Monday, some social-science professors have hinted they won’t be back in class because they can’t guarantee the academic integrity of courses without the teaching assistants back at work.

At the U of T, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3902 held a ratification vote over the weekend on an offer that had been recommended by its bargaining committee for boosting the minimum funding package to $17,500 from $15,000, among other benefits. But with about one-third of the 6,000 striking teaching and graduate assistants and contract instructors casting ballots, the deal lost 1,101 to 992, according to a union spokesperson Monday morning.

“Our members have clearly indicated that continued strike action is necessary to achieve the gains that are necessary for long-term financial security as student workers,” CUPE 3902 spokesman Craig Smith said in the statement.

Critics of the offer had warned the university did not provide wording that would guarantee the $17,500 as a new minimum to which every member has the right in future, but just provided a lump sum to cover the raises.

However U of T administration statement Monday said “The proposed agreement provided enhanced wages, improved benefits, better financial assistance and tuition fee offsets – making it one of the best teaching-assistant compensation packages in Canada. It remains, by any objective measure, a fair and reasonable basis for a settlement and an end to the strike.

“We continue to be in close contact with the Provincial Mediator and remain committed to finding a solution to this impasse that would end the strike and allow affected students to complete their academic term without further disruption,” said Professor Angela Hildyard, VP Human Resources and Equity.

At York, where the administration reached a deal with contract faculty and have been phasing in classes, with the last to resume today, the Faculty Council of the 20,000-student arts faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies will hold a special meeting Monday morning to consider calling on York to cancel classes again until all picket lines are down.

Some York students report classes that were supposed to start back last week have not resumed, with some instructors offering to teach online rather than cross their teaching assistants’ pickets, and others not yet offering any alternative.

York political science professor Terry Maley said many of his colleagues believe York should not have ordered classes to resume because the teaching and graduate assistants remain on strike, and not only will students and professors miss their input but there will be some students and faculty who will not want to cross the picket lines.

“With a large number of teaching assistants on strike, many of my colleagues feel that classes are not really viable; there is too much inconsistency with the continued disruptions to ensure academic integrity.”

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Both situations have divided the student body. Many students are anxious to get back to class and finish the year so they can meet work and study obligations in May, especially international students whose study visas may expire. Others support the strike; some 5,000 undergrads at York signed a petition recently urging the university not to resume classes till it reaches a deal with all striking employees.

At the U of T, some undergraduates also support strikers and were considering sit-ins starting Monday to push the university to reach a deal.