WATCH ABOVE: Mark Carcasole reports on the situation at York University as classes resume despite the ongoing strike.
TORONTO – Tensions flared between students and striking teaching assistants at York University on Tuesday as some classes resumed despite the ongoing labour dispute.
One confrontation was recorded on video and posted on YouTube, showing several people crossing the picket line.
According to the video description, the incident took place on Sentinel Road where a blockade was set up.
A number of drivers are seen shouting at the strikers with at least two of them kicking down the blockade.
The altercation comes a day after the union representing striking staff warned of “chaos and confusion” if classes opened before a settlement was reached.
WATCH: Heated confrontation at York University picket line recorded on video
York University administrators say they were aware of the incident and proper authorities were notified.
“York Security Officials responded quickly and relayed information to arriving Toronto Police Service, which is following up on it as it occurred on a public roadway,” said York U spokesperson Janice Walls in a statement to Global News.
The university said security staff continue to monitor the picket lines to ensure the safety of those entering or exiting campus.
“The safety and well-being of all members of the York community are of the utmost importance to us,” said Walls.
“This is a critical reminder to all community members of the need to be vigilant in respecting the picket line and to maintain patience at all times.”
But the picketers say they warned that opening up the school would result in violence.
“The health and safety of the people out here on the picket lines, and the undergraduate students trying to get to class, not to mention the people driving through, is at risk if they increase the volume of traffic in that way and they chose not to heed those warnings,” Stephen Maher, a political science TA said in an interview Wednesday.
Maher said a similar, but more violent, incident happened Wednesday morning when a car drove through the barricade and hit one of the striking workers.
“There’s been some tense incidents today,” he said. “One of the first cars of the day I think ran through the picket, ran through the barricade, and wore my friend Dean as a hood ornament for a few yards.”
There’s a chance the school could be closed, again, Prakash Amarasooriya, a student senator for the Faculty of Health said in an interview. School senators are meeting Thursday to vote on closing classes until the labour disruption is resolved.
Amarasooriya is in the last year of his undergraduate degree, and is taking a full course load and applying to medical school. He wants classes to resume but will be voting against keeping them open.
“I don’t believe the majority of senators felt it was the right decision to move forward with it,” he said. “We should have all delayed classes until the strike was dealt with.”
Meanwhile, University of Toronto Students’ Union planned a noon student walkout Wednesday in solidarity with teaching assistants currently on strike and to demand a tuition refund.
A number of classes have been shut down during the strike but a handful of faculties have also continued on with sessions.
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