CUPE 3903 condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent theft and vandalism of equipment, fascist graffiti, and threats targeting specific members over the past week at the Glendon Campus picket line. On Thursday, March 29, Glendon CUPE members discovered fascist graffiti connected to expressions of white supremacy and anti-Semitism on picket line equipment, and a veiled, unspecified threat for Monday, April 2, 2018, posted on the office window of a CUPE member. This incident comes after repeated theft and vandalism of picket line equipment at Glendon.

These disturbing incidents are of a piece with similar acts of vandalism, racist and anti-Semitic graffiti, and bomb threats at Glendon College beginning in the spring of 2017. Like any other member of the York community, we have every right to expect that incidents of this sort will not be tolerated by the York administration.

Given its refusal to bargain seriously since September 2017, the York administration must take full responsibility for creating conditions that continue to put the safety of all community members in jeopardy.

We call on York President Rhonda Lenton and Glendon Principal Donald Ipperciel to condemn unequivocally the above incidents in public statements to the York and Glendon communities.

We call on our members and our allies to show their solidarity with our Glendon members by joining the Glendon picket line at the entrance to Glendon Campus (2275 Bayview, at Lawrence East) at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 2, and throughout the upcoming week.

CUPE 3903 will continue to resist any claim to public space by fascists, racists, and anti-Semites.