Image of the Grinch: York U. How the grinch stole winter break

In a wintry York U, draped red and white,
The staff trudged through workloads by day and by night.
They toiled in their labs, where beakers did bubble,
And in Faculty offices, buried in trouble.
They shelved dusty tomes in Scott library's hush,
And in UIT they solved the networks’ weird gush.
Recruiters enticed with a welcoming grin,
While the registrar's office kept order within.
Advancement folk sought funds with hearts all aglow,
While their workloads just grew in the drifts of the snow.

Up in Kaneff Tower, on its tippy-top height,
A President-Grinch gloated with mean, chilly delight.
A person of power, with a heart grown too lean,
She sneered at the staff from her green-windowed screen:
“U of T and TMU give two weeks quite free,
But up north at York U, I won't let that be!
I must keep these workers tied fast to their desks,
Though the students are resting and make no requests!
I’ll say it’s for students, though none will appear,
And force staff to use banked vacation so dear.”

Image of a giant Grinch sitting on top of the Kaneff Tower on a snowy day at York University

She claimed that the budget was hollow and low,
But the number of managers continued to grow!
While VEP cuts left departments all strained,
The number of bosses ever remained.
There were no decked-out offices festive with flair,
Holiday party budgets slashed, no merriment there.

“Bargain better!” they told the union with scorn,
A phrase intended to leave workers forlorn.
Condescending and smug, they thought them too weak,
But YUSA stood tall—not docile and meek.
The strong union members, with voices so clear,
Refused to cower or tremble in fear.
They knew in their bones what was right and what’s best—
A fair winter break, their due and their rest!
Staff and faculty united to answer the call,
Their solidarity echoing, in lab, office and hall.

For when workers unite, no Grinch can deny,
Their strength yields a brightness that lights up the sky.
And perhaps, in that tower, the coldness might melt,
As the President-Grinch sees the passion they felt.
With voices united, they forged their own way,
Their hearts beating bravely through winter’s gray day.

Maybe next year, beneath gentle snow,
Two full weeks of rest, they’ll peacefully glow.
When workers stand firm and don’t break from the strain,
Even Grinches must yield, that much is plain.
So sing out, dear YUSA, with courage and zeal,
Your chorus of justice will win a fair deal!

YUSAPUY (York University Staff Association – Association du Personnel de L’Universite York) was founded in 1970. First established as an association, it was certified as a union five years later, on December 10, 1975, and today represents thousands of workers at York University in Toronto, Ontario.

Questions? Email us at yusapuy@yusapuy.ca

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4700 Keele Street
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