Dear Sessionals,
On October 27th, the University’s Board of Governors formally ratified the new CUPE Unit 2 Collective Agreement (the agreement that you ratified in July). As such, the new Collective Agreement is in full force and effect – a tentative draft version can be found here. The Union will have hard copies printed soon for members who need one.
On the next pay period (November 18th), each Sessional who is currently being paid at the previous base rate ($7630.55) will see a one-time payment of $153.38 per 3.0 unit course taught on their pay stub. This accounts for the negotiated wage increase through to the end of the semester, but your bi-weekly pay will remain the same through to the end of the semester. New contracts beginning in January will see no less than current base rate of $7783.93 paid out over 8 equal payments. For those of you teaching a 6.0 course, the one-time payment of the wage increase will be pro-rated accordingly. Effective September 1, 2023, the base rate will increase by 3.5% to $8056.37 per 3.0 unit course.
As part of the ratification process, Hourly Rated Sessional Music Faculty will see a one-time payment representing the difference between hours paid at current rate compared to new rate (paid November 18th). Going forward, the new hourly rate will be applied for the balance of the term. We expected that Sessionals employed in MELD will also see a one-time increase representing the difference between hours paid at current rate compared to the new hourly new rate, though we are finalizing the remaining details. Going forward, the new hourly rate will be applied for the balance of the term.
The new Collective Agreement also contains important increases to the Health Care Spending Account (increased from $93,000 per year to $166,000 this year and up to $180,000 next year) and the Family Dental Supplement (increased from $10,000 per year to over $37,000 this year and up to over $41,000 next year). The benefits committee will examine any further potential changes to individual entitlements. The new agreement also contains increases to the dental fund and the professional development fund.
Resulting from these increases, our benefits committee recently announced an increase to the Health Spending Account (up to $500 per year at 100% reimbursement). We also recently announced an expansion to the Professional Development Fund to allow the submission of various technological items.
Your bargaining committee also won a supplemental benefits fund ($7,000 this year, increasing to $10,000 next year) that the Benefits Committee will earmark for a Gender Affirmation Fund, similar to what we previously secured for TAs and RAs in Unit 1. Further details are still being developed.
Finally, the new Collective Agreement also contains a $42,000 supplementary fund to be used for various benefits purposes. Your benefits committee will be meeting to determine how to best allocate this money based on the needs of our membership.
The benefits committee plays an important role in determining entitlement for all of our benefits and adjudicating various applications, such as Professional Development. The committee normally meets once every 4-6 weeks for between 1 and 2 hours. The time commitment is limited, all meetings are virtual or hybrid. We are always looking for new and diverse voices to join the committee. Please email beneifts@cupe3906.org if you would like to join or have questions about participating.
In solidarity,
Your CUPE Unit 2 bargaining committee