How the NDP lost my vote with York University vote

Urban scrawl: How the NDP lost my vote with York University vote - Posted Toronto

Commentary by Lyndon Koopmans

Two days ago I joined more than 100 York University students outside Queen's Park to demonstrate in support of back-to-work legislation that ended the 85-day long strike at the university. The mood at our demonstration was mixed. We are all happy that the end of the strike appears near, but frustrated that the back-to-work bill was delayed. Many students were especially annoyed that the party of the student turned out to be our greatest opponent, keeping us out of class.
Of course, I am referring to the NDP. Not only did the NDP decide to vote against the back-to-work bill, they used their full share of debate time to delay the bill, adding a number of days to the strike and keeping us out of class until Monday.
No one can blame the NDP for representing the perspective of labour. But a party that talks about representing 'working people' and 'ordinary people' might have given more consideration to the students and our families.
York is a heavily working class university. Many parents saved for years, and students spent evenings and summers at minimum wage jobs, to pay for their education at York. In this strike, 'ordinary people' include the students and families that have struggled and made sacrifices to obtain a university education.
The NDP has revealed its true nature to students, as a party that will turn its back on workers, families and students if a union asks them to.
Even worse, the over-heated rhetoric in the NDP speeches shows that they haven't bothered to get to know York University, or to get the facts. Andrea Horvath compared our university to Walmart. Cheri Dinovo claimed that the striking workers have 'less in benefits than a Tim Hortons worker.' Paul Miller spoke about 'slave wages' at the university.
By the admission of union leaders, the striking workers at York have one of the best pay and benefits packages out of all the universities in Canada, including a benefits package far beyond what would normally be given to part time workers. It's true that the union wants to improve its contract, but nobody who bothered to become informed about the strike would have characterized York as a sweatshop. Overblown rhetoric that unfairly tarnishes the whole university doesn't help, and will alienate many York students.
There are some students that the NDP was never going reach, of course. But many students are just like me: political blank slates who have no party ties and who have never had the chance to vote before. This week the NDP lost my vote, and probably many more.
• Lyndon Koopmans is co-organizer of YorkNotHostage.com"