New Lead Steward
Hi everyone, I am Simran, lead steward for TAs and a third-year PhD candidate in Materials Science and Engineering. My research keeps me busy, but outside my lab, I love playing badminton, squash, tennis, and table tennis. If a sport involves a racquet, I am in! I enjoy meeting new people, so whether you want to discuss grad life, research struggles, or just racquet sports, I am all ears. As a Unit 1 lead steward, I am here to help with anything from contracts and pay questions to navigating TA workloads and challenges. If you are dealing with workload concerns, unclear expectations, or need help finding solutions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I am happy to help with any questions about Unit 1 benefits, eligibility, or claims, and am always open to hearing ideas and working together on solutions. Looking forward to serving as lead steward for Unit 1.
End of Term Information
Congratulations! You have reached the end of the semester and the end of your Winter term TAship.
Your TA work obligations are over. and you are not required to perform any TA duties, regardless of whether you have any hours remaining from the Hours of Work form. The April 17th pay was the last and final pay of the semester. Your work obligations are over as of April 24th, regardless of whether you have any hours remaining from the Hours of Work form.
This means you are officially on vacation and cannot be compelled to perform TA work.
End of Term means end of work
Once the term ends, you no longer need to perform any TA/RA work. Your collective agreementstates the following:
“Employees will not be required to grade deferred term work or deferred exams submitted after the end of the academic term in which an employee holds an assignment. It is understood that such work is the responsibility of the course instructor.
However, if an employee agrees to grade deferred term work or deferred exams submitted after the end of the academic term in which an employee holds an assignment, the employee will be paid at the rate specified in Schedule “A,” based on the employee’s status at the time of grading.”
Your CUPE Benefits
- Health Spending Account: Unit 1
A Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) exists for all TAs and RAs (in lieu). Effective January 30, 2023, the maximum entitlement is now $350 per twenty-four-month period.
Form:
- UHIP Rebate
Are you an International Student? UHIP Rebate entitlement is $250 per academic year.
Form:
- Reproductive Health Fund
Under the Reproductive Health Fund, CUPE 3906 Unit 1 members (TAs and RAs in lieu) are able to claim up to $150 in reproductive health-related expenses per academic year.
Form:
Click to access CUPE-3906-Unit-1-REPRODUCTIVE-HEALTH-Claim-Form-MAR-2023.pdf
- Dental Plan
CUPE 3906 provides dental coverage for Classification A Unit 1 members (excluding TAs and RAs in lieu who do not hold an undergraduate degree) who have a TAship or RAship in lieu of a TAship within the current academic year.
More information here: https://cupe3906.org/tas-unit-1/dental-plan/
- Child care rebate
CUPE 3906 recognizes the high costs of childcare and has established a reimbursement fund to help offset the high costs of childcare.
Form:
- Gender Affirmation Fund
Protected in Article 21 of the Collective Agreement, the Gender Affirmation Fund provides a total of $10,000 per year to help offset the costs involved with various elements of affirming one’s gender. Form:
- Employee Family Assistance Program
As a Teaching Assistant or RA in lieu (CUPE Unit 1 member), you have access to McMaster’s Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) at no cost and on the same basis as other employee groups at McMaster.
More information here:
https://cupe3906.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/501/2023/03/Telus-Health-EFAP-Brochure.pdf and
https://cupe3906.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/501/2023/03/Telus-Health-EFAP-Poster.pdf
Please use your benefits and spread the word so your friends can claim theirs too! For more information https://cupe3906.org/tas-unit-1/unit-1-benefits/