Members of CUPE Local 3906, Unit 2 have ratified a new Collective Agreement with the Employer. The tentative agreement, ratified by 88%, was secured following two days of conciliation in late November. CUPE Local 3906, Unit 2 represents close to 500 Sessional Faculty and Hourly-Rated Sessional Faculty at McMaster University.

The new three-year collective agreement – in place until August 31, 2020 – provides important gains to members, although it falls short of everything we hoped to achieve at the outset of bargaining. While we did not secure the $8000.00 per course we hoped for or the six automatic First Consideration Appointments we proposed, improvements were made on both of these fronts.

The new agreement secures modest wage increases that will increase the 3.0 course rate from $7050.00 (present) to $7191.00 effective January 1, 2018, $7407.00 effective September 1, 2018, and will be increased to $7555.00 in the last year of the agreement. Hourly-Rated Sessional Music Faculty – currently earning $62.25/hr – will see their wages increase to $63.50 effective January 1, 2018, $65.40 effective September 1, 2018, and will be increased to $66.70 in the last year of the agreement. This will also be the new hourly-rate for post-contract work for Sessional Faculty.

The bargaining team also secured gains to job security. The current model of First Consideration Appointments, which guarantees two automatic appointments following two consecutive successful applications, will expand immediately to guarantee three automatic appointments. Similarly, the current model of Enhanced First Consideration Appointments, which guarantees three automatic appointments following an additional successful application, will expand immediately to guarantee four automatic appointments.

The newly ratified agreement also provides funds to maintain the Health Care Spending Account, Dental Plan, and Professional Development Fund that the Union administers.

The new collective agreement also secures for members a pregnancy/parental leave of up to 90% for 19 weeks (an increase from the current 45%) and increases the course cancellation fee from $2000.00 to $4000.00 for course cancelled in the two weeks before class (effective September 1, 2018). Sessional Faculty and Hourly-Rated Sessional Music Faculty are now also entitled to paid domestic violence leave that will provide 100% of wages for up to the duration of contract. The Collective Agreement also includes a formal Aboriginal Land Recognition, increased transparency in course evaluations, the introduction of concept of ‘coaching’ to discipline and discharge procedure, and access to a credential training program through MacPherson Institute.

Contact:

Sam Oort, National Representative- soort@cupe.ca

Graham Baker, President, CUPE Local 3906- president@cupe3906.org

Brad Walchuk, Staff Representative and Chief Negotiator, CUPE Local 3906- bwalchuk@cupe3906.org