

Chris Fox, CP24.com





A number of University of Toronto students have walked out of their classes to protest a teaching assistant work stoppage and call for a partial refund on their tuition.

Some 6,000 University of Toronto teaching, research and graduate assistants have been off the job since Feb. 27 and though classes at the university have continued, many students have said that the strike is beginning to impact their education through the halting of labs and tutorials.

Today’s walkout, which comes two days after the leadership of CUPE 3902 rejected the school's latest offer, took place at 12:10 p.m. and was expected to be followed by a rally on King's College Circle in front of the University of Toronto president's office.

According to a press release from the University of Toronto Students' Union, those participating in the rally will deliver a petition with more than 1,500 signatures to university administrators as well as a number of letters.

In a written statement provided to CP24, the University of Toronto refused to say whether it would consider providing students with a partial tuition refund, but noted that it is “every effort is being made” to ensure the “academic success of students.”

“We are actively working with Divisions and Faculties to identify concrete options for those courses that have been affected by striking CUPE 3902 instructors,” the statement read. “We are particularly aware of the needs of students intending to graduate this term. Departments offering affected courses are committed to providing students with updated information regarding suspended classes over the next few days.”

Similar walkouts and rallies are also being held at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough and Mississauga campuses.

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