We can now confirm that multiple departments at McMaster University (the Employer) intend to exclude all Teaching Assistants working outside the province of Ontario (but elsewhere in Canada) from the bargaining unit. Practically speaking, this means stripping out-of-province TAs of the rights, privileges, and protections afforded by their membership with CUPE 3906, and we have every reason to believe this will be a university-wide practice that causes major problems for many Unit 1 members. Losing one’s rights as a Union member not only leaves a person vulnerable to all sorts of unjust labour practices, it also means no longer having access to the many benefits and services that the Union provides.

The protections and services these members will lose include (but are not limited to):

• Wage protections
• Dental benefits
• A Health Care Spending Account
• UHIP rebates
• The Gender Affirmation Fund
• Protections against harassment and discrimination
• Protections against unjust termination
• Various paid and unpaid leaves
• Access to the grievance process
• Access to collective bargaining
• Access to CUPE 3906 Membership Meetings

McMaster officials claim their decision to exclude out-of-province TAs from the Union was made based on their interpretation of the Unit 1 Collective Agreement; however, they have yet to explain how such a callous act – in the middle of a pandemic – could ever be conceived as ethical or responsible. We not only disagree on their supposed entitlement to make such a decision, but also condemn their actions as a cruel and blatant example of union busting. The University stands to gain nothing from this practice but the chance to destabilize the Union and, by extension, put all CUPE 3906 members at risk.

The Union has attempted to resolve this matter internally via a Letter of Understanding (LOU) that would ensure no members have to face further undue hardship as we all struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts. Unfortunately, we have received little response from the Employer and have no reason to think they are currently interested in signing the proposed LOU. Our preference would have been to find a solution without causing worry for our members; however, the University has made it clear that this won’t be possible.

The Union is pursuing every avenue we have to fight this, but we cannot do it alone. We need all CUPE 3906 members and allies to join us in pressuring McMaster to abandon any and all plans to exclude out-of-province TAs from the bargaining unit. We ask that you please sign and share this letter calling on the administration to sign our LOU and commit to recognizing the continued membership of out-of-province TAs so long as online course, lab, and tutorial delivery remain as replacements for in-person instruction.

Without such an agreement, the impending exclusions are bound to affect our friends, family, and colleagues. As Union members and allies, we must stand together and tell McMaster that this cruel practice is unacceptable.

On August 13th, 2020, the General Membership of CUPE 3906 endorsed the following statement calling on McMaster University to adopt an action plan to address anti-blackness and other forms of racism on campus.

Full Statement PDF

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our international members who participated in last week’s art and music competition. The Committee was highly impressed by all submissions, and after much deliberation, decided on the following 1st and 2nd place winners for each category:

Thanks to your support during our contract negotiations this past fall, we have been able to increase the amount of money in our UHIP Rebate program for Unit 1 members who pay UHIP fees.

If you have already received $200 in UHIP rebates this academic year, you can now apply to receive an additional $50.  If you have not received any UHIP rebates and you are an eligible member, you can now apply to receive $250 in rebates.

Please note that you must provide proof of UHIP fee payments even if you are only claiming the additional $50.

Please visit our website for more instructions on how to apply.

Thanks to your support during our contract negotiations this past fall, we have been able to increase the amount of money in our Unit 3 HCSA.

If you have already claimed $250 from our Unit 3 HCSA this academic year (i.e., September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020), you can now claim an additional $50 for eligible expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2020.

If you have not yet claimed any funds from our Unit 3 HCSA this academic year (i.e., September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020), you can now claim $300 for eligible expenses.

For information on eligibility, how to make a claim, and a claim form, click here.

You might have noticed on the McMaster Daily news that all employees, students, and visitors on campus will be required to wear masks or face coverings inside campus buildings as July 14. Read the full statement here.

The Union has been informed that, if you do not have a mask, you will be directed to a station to obtain one.

The Employer will provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where appropriate (e.g., in labs where non-medical paper masks could pose a fire hazard, or in labs where medical-grade masks are required).

Please note that this requirement does not change who is expected to work on campus.  (In other words, you are still not required to come to campus unless you are directed to do so by your supervisor and there is an appropriate safety plan in place.)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Union at healthandsafety@cupe3906.org or mecampbell@cupe3906.org. 

What about all your questions about teaching during the pandemic, with virtually all instructional activities moving online? Or, perhaps you have questions about the phased re-opening of campus? We can help! Your Chief Steward has added a new section to our website that includes recent updates about teaching during the pandemic. Please take a look and follow up by emailing Sylvia at chiefsteward_sessionals@cupe3906.org.

We are looking for any Unit 2 Members who may be interested in representing and advancing the interests of their fellow sessional instructors at the department level! Sign up for the compensation (honouraria) and the satisfaction of standing together in precarious employment. Contact Sylvia at chiefsteward_sessionals@cupe3906.org! For more details about becoming a Steward, have a look at our new recruitment flyer.

Your elected Bargaining Team has reviewed the results of the Unit 2 bargaining survey that was sent out to Unit 2 members earlier this spring.  Based on your responses in conjunction with three years’ worth of conversations our Executive and Staff have had with members about how to strengthen and improve your rights as frontline workers at McMaster, the Bargaining Team has created a list of priorities for you to ratify as we head into negotiations with the Employer, the McMaster University Administration.

We have grouped these priorities into six categories:  Wages, Job Security, Professional Supports, Health and Wellbeing, Workload, and Pensions.  For a more detailed explanation of what these priorities mean, please visit our website for a helpful guide.

Your participation in the ratification of our priorities package is another easy way to contribute to the bargaining process and show your support as the Bargaining Team prepares for negotiations with the Employer.  The Labour Relations Act does not require such a vote, but it’s just one more way we like to engage members during the bargaining process.

Since we are not able to hold our normal in-person meeting, voting will take place online, via Helios. The voting period will begin this Wednesday (June 17) at 5pm and end this Sunday (June 21) at 5pm. Other key details can be found below:

• Unit 2 members will receive a voter ID and password to vote via McMaster email from an online platform called Helios.
• Helios is the most user-friendly and secure voting platform we have found.  For more information about Helios, please visit https://heliosvoting.org/faq
• Once the polls are open, you will be able to log in and cast your vote either in favour or opposed to referendum question regarding the six priorities identified in this presentation.
• Your vote will then be encrypted and logged anonymously. Your email and username will only grant you access to the polls and will not be associated with your vote, nor will it be used or sold by Helios voting thereafter.  Once the polls are closed, Helios will automatically tally the results.

Thank you in advance for your participation!