CUPE 3906

Under your collective agreement, you are entitled to paid vacation days. Subject to the approval of their employment supervisor, an employee may choose the time of their vacation leave. Requests will not be unreasonably denied. Vacation pay calculates as follows: for those with an appointment of less than one-year, you accumulate 1.25 days per month; for those with an appointment one-year or more but less than 3 years, you accumulate 1.67 days per month; and for those with an appointment of 3 years or more, you accumulate 2.08 days per month.

Benefits information

Your entitlement under the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) is $450 per academic year. This account covers many items that are not covered or not fully covered by your SunLife health and dental plan. More information on the HCSA, including an expense form, can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/post-doc-health-spending-account/ 

The SunLife health and dental plan offers significant coverage for virtually all health and dental-related items, and covers many at 100% (up to a maximum of $500 per year). Many items not covered, not fully covered, or that have been exhausted under the SunLife plan can be claimed under our Health Care Spending Account. For more information about eligibility and coverage, please visit https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/sunlife/

Your professional development allowance is up to a maximum of $1000 per academic year. More information on that, as well as the application form, can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/postdoctoral-fellow-professional-development-fund

Finally, you also have access to the Postdoctoral Support Fund, which now provides up to $750 per year to cover eligible expenses, including child care, moving/relocation costs, and other unexpected or one-time emergency costs. The application for that fund is available here: https://gs.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2020/01/postdoctoral_support_fund_2017.pdf (please note you only need to fill out ‘part B’ in your initial application). 

If you have dental coverage through CUPE, it will continue through until August 31st, 2025, even if your sessional position has come to an end and you do not have work in the spring/summer semester.

This same is true about your Health Care Spending Account (HCSA). You can make a claim until August 31st, 2025 so long as you have worked for at least one semester in the 2024-25 academic year.

For those of you earning the base rate and teaching a class with more than 75 students, please note that your last pay stub should have reflected an additional supplementary payment of $2.00 per student per unit for each student above 75. For a typical 3-unit course, this would amount to $6.00 per student for each student above 75. If you taught a class with more than 75 students and you have yet to see the supplemental fee added, please reach out to us immediately. If the payment is not processed soon, it could adversely impact EI entitlement, so please follow-up with your us or your department administrator this week and let us know if there are any issues. **please note that effective September 1st, the supplementary payment has increased $3.00 per student per unit for each student above 75 (or $9.00 per student for each student above 75)**

Post-Contract work
Any post-contract work (that is, work requested by your supervisor and completed after your final grades have been submitted) is separate from your contract and payable at a rate of $75.93/hour. This would include reviewing grades that are being challenged, marking exams that have been deferred, and dealing with cases of plagiarism. This is not an exhaustive list, and more information, including the appropriate form you’ll need to fill out and submit to get paid, is available here. **please note, we are awaiting an updated form with the new wage, but you can use the existing form in the meantime.** If you are asked to perform this work and are collecting EI, please let us know.

Once your marks have been submitted (the main list, this does not need to include any deferred exams or extensions based on accommodations), your contract is over, and this triggers the beginning of the post-contract period. If you have been asked to perform any work since submitting your grades – or if you are asked in the coming weeks – this applies to you!

Employment Insurance
The final pay was April 17^th. This final pay triggered what Service Canada refers to as an ‘interruption of earnings’ and should be the date you list on your EI application as the last pay date (not the date for which you were last paid). The ‘day for which you were last paid’ and your ‘last day worked’ should be listed as April 8^th.  We would encourage all Sessionals who may utilize Employment Insurance at any point in 2025 to apply as soon as possible. 

The first pay in the spring term, for those of you who are employed, will be on May 16th and the first day of work was May 5th. This means you might be able to collect EI from April 9^th until May 4th, if you have enough insurable hours. For information on EI, click here. If you have not served a withholding period, you will need to serve a one week over period before you collect EI.

In certain instances, it is possible to both work and collect EI (with some clawbacks) if the amount of work have in the winter has dropped substantially from the work you had during the fall term. More information is available here.

Please note that all EI decisions are made by Service Canada, so it is always best to confirm with them if in doubt.   

Professional Development

For those of you who are curious, applications made to the Professional Development Fund this semester will be adjudicated in the comings weeks and we will provide you with an update on your outcome as soon as we can. Cheques will be cut as soon as possible and should arrive shortly.

If you’ve missed the previous winter semester’s deadline, no worries. You can submit a professional development claim at any point over the coming spring semester.

Health Spending Account

Finally, a quick reminder that your maximum Health Care Spending Account entitlement is at $500 per academic year. The fund covers the cost of various health care related expenses (as approved by Revenue Canada) and provides a tax-free reimbursement to you. More information is available here: https://cupe3906.org/sessionals-unit-2/unit-2-benefits/

There is no cost or fee to you. The fund is secured through collective bargaining and made available to members to use as needed.

First Consideration Appointments

One major question we get related to seniority relates to job security. Sessionals have job security in the form of First Consideration Appointments. These function in the same way as a right of first refusal. First Consideration Appointments are a form of job security that occurs when you are appointed to a course without having to apply to it through a competitive application process.

You become eligible for a Standard First Consideration Appointment when you have taught the course for two consecutive appointments after applying to teach it in two open competitions. With First Consideration, you are entitled to be appointed to that course, without it being posted or you needing to apply for it, the next three times that it is offered to Sessional Faculty.

Members who have completed a Standard First Consideration Appointment are then eligible for an Enhanced First Consideration Appointment. When the course is posted again and you are hired in an open competition, you are then entitled to be appointed to that course, without needing to apply for it, the next four times that the course is offered to Sessionals.

Once you have secured a Standard or Enhanced First Consideration, the department can extend your appointment and continue to appoint you directly.

This is an important message for the following CUPE 3906 members:

–Classification “A” Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants (in lieu) (i.e., Unit 1 members holding an undergraduate degree) who are working in the Spring/Summer 2025 Academic Term, but did not work in the Fall 2024 and/or Winter 2025 Term(s); and/or

–Sessional Faculty and Hourly Rated Sessional Music Faculty (i.e., Unit 2 Members) who are working in the Spring/Summer 2025 Academic Term, but did not work in the Fall 2024 and/or Winter 2025 Term(s)

As Classification “A” Unit 1 Members and/or Unit 2 Members, you are eligible for CUPE 3906 Dental Coverage. More information about the coverage is available HERE for Unit 1 Members, and HERE for Unit 2 Members.

Please note that there is a Spring/Summer Term deadline (May 30, 2025) for dental change of coverage forms. If you would like to opt-out of Dental Coverage or enroll in Family Dental Coverage, please see the information and complete the Opt-Out Form or Family Dental Coverage Form that is available HERE for Unit 1 Members, and HERE for Unit 2 Members.

The deadline for the submission of SPRING/SUMMER 2025 change of coverage forms is: MAY 30, 2025. No family dental enrollments or opt-outs will be accepted after this date. Please email forms and supporting documentation to: administrator@cupe3906.org.

Please note that the deadline has now passed for dental opt-outs and family enrollments for members who worked in the Fall 2024 and/or Winter 2025 term(s).

Dear CUPE 3906 members,

As you are aware, we resumed our Annual General Membership Meeting (AGM) last week and voting continued until yesterday morning. The results for most of the elections have been certified and the Local can announce the following positions to be elected:

President: Oluwadamilola (Dams) Babatunde
Vice President: Kusum Bhatta
Vice President External: Mira Musallam
Secretary-Treasurer: Saba Khorasani
Recording Secretary: Rishav Jaiswal
Equity Officer: Oluwakorede (Korede) Ologun
International Officer: Samuel Ikueze
Lead Steward, Unit 1: Zeinab Vosooghi
Lead Steward, Unit 2: Dr. Hamedhossein (Hamed) Afshari
Undergraduate Officer: Elissa Cunningham

Congratulations to those who were declared elected, and a huge thank you to all those who put their name forward and contested a position.

Please note that the results for the following positions will be certified and announced on Friday: Health & Safety Officer, Benefits & Advocacy Officer, and Lead Steward – Unit 4.

The Lead Steward – Unit 3 position will be filled at an upcoming Special General Membership meeting for Postdocs.

Prisoner Letter Writing Night

Although CUPE Local 3906 is not a direct affiliate of CAUT, they are an important voice for academics in Canada. Our members might be interested in their recent travel advisory to the USA:

Given the rapidly evolving political landscape in the United States and reports of individuals encountering difficulties crossing the border, CAUT strongly recommends that academic staff travel to the U.S. only if essential and necessary.

In addition, CAUT recommends that academics who fall into the following categories exercise particular caution:

• Citizens or residents of a country identified in media reports as likely to be subject to a travel ban
• Citizens or residents of a country where there are diplomatic tensions with the U.S.
• Travellers with passport stamps evidencing recent travel to countries that may be subject to a travel ban or where there are diplomatic tensions with the U.S.
• Those who have expressed negative opinions about the current U.S. administration or its policies
• Those whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration
• Travellers who identify as transgender or whose travel documents indicate a sex other than their sex assigned at birth

Academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing borders and take actions to protect sensitive information where necessary.

Read the 2025 Supplement to the CAUT Advisory on Travel to the United States here.

Dear CUPE 3906 Members,

Our union is built on the foundations of respect, equity, and due process. These are not just words we read aloud at the start of each meeting — they are commitments we hold ourselves accountable to in every interaction, especially during moments of tension or disagreement.

We do not condone conduct that humiliates, undermines, or shames members in any public or private forum. All members — including those in leadership roles — are expected to uphold our equity principles and follow our Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures to address concerns.

• CUPE 3906 Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Handbook
• Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Form

We recognize that this incident may have affected members in different ways. We are here to support you. Below are some resources available to you if you would like to speak to someone or seek support:

• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP): Confidential counselling and mental health support for McMaster employees: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/employees/health_safety_well-being/my-well-being/employee-and-family-assistance-program/
• CMHA Hamilton Crisis Hotline: Mental health support and crisis services: https://cmhahamilton.ca/
• St. Joseph’s Mental Health and Wellness Resources: https://www.stjoes.ca/hospital-services/mental-health-addiction-services/mental-health-services/mental-health-and-wellness-resource-centre
• SACHA (Sexual Assault Centre – Hamilton & Area): Support for those affected by sexual violence or harassment: https://sacha.ca/

All matters pertaining to the AGM or election will be handled by CUPE National representative, Sean Lee (seanl@cupe.ca) and CUPE 3906 staff, Mary Ellen Campbell (mary@cupe3906.org).

Roll Up Your Sleeves, WAHC’s third annual spring un-gala, is back and it’s shaping up to be quite the evening. 

Get your Canadian tuxedos ready because Roll Up Your Sleeves is not just a fundraiser supporting WAHC’s year round operations—it’s an opportunity to celebrate working people’s art, culture and history!

There will be raffle prizes, a peek into our permanent collection, music from Hamilton’s own EYE.SHA, the opportunity to try your hand at pulling your very own letterpress print designed by Greg Smith of Blind Pig Press, and beverages courtesy of Clifford Brewing Company

It’s also the last chance to catch WAHC’s current exhibitions: What We Inherit in the CUPE/SCFP Gallery and Steelworker Legacies in the Community Gallery.

Get your tickets now! You’re not going to want to miss it.
https://wahc-museum.ca/event/roll-up-your-sleeves/

Please take a moment to support our fellow University sector workers at UofT (Local 3902) and at the UofT Students’ Union (Local 1281)

1. CUPE 3902 has five units in difficult negotiations, and three (including one fighting a major concession) have an April 1 strike deadline: https://cupe.ca/fair-deal-now
2. CUPE 1281.25 – staff at University of Toronto Students’ Union – are in a big fight. A lot of concession demands from a very aggressive employer. They could be on strike next week: https://cupe.on.ca/utsu/