Bargaining update – McMaster and CUPE 3906 agree to pause talks The University and representatives of CUPE 3906, Unit 2 (“the Union”) have been meeting to negotiate a renewed collective agreement. The Union represents approximately 380 Sessional Faculty and Sessional Music Faculty at McMaster. Both parties report making progress towards a renewed agreement and that the talks have been constructive … Read More
Bargaining E-Bulletin #1
Bargaining Update The Union and the Employer have met on a number of occasions, and more dates are scheduled for May. What We Have Proposed Based on the membership survey that you filled out in late 2012 and early 2013, the union has five main bargaining priorities: – Increased Job Security (in the form of expanded First Consideration Appointments) – … Read More
CUPE 3906 Office Relocation
Dear Members, You may have heard that all tenants of Wentworth House (including CUPE 3906) have been instructed by the University to relocate their offices in light of the upcoming demolition of the building. In light of this request, we are relocating our office to the basement of Kenneth Taylor Hall. As of April 24th, 2013, our new office location … Read More
Invitation to Annual Ice Cream Social
This invitation is from Senior Management for All Faculty and Staff. Please see the poster: Ice Cream Social Poster
Unit 2 Health Spending Account Increased
The benefits committee is pleased to announce that the Unit 2 Health Spending Account (HSA) entitlement will be increased to $400/year on a trial basis. The increase may be adjusted in the future if the claims activity is higher or lower than expected. The decision to increase the HSA was made after a careful review of Unit 2 HSA claims … Read More
Unit 2 Health Spending Account (HSA) Increase
The benefits committee is pleased to announce that the Unit 2 Health Spending Account (HSA) entitlement will be increased to $400/year on a trial basis. The increase may be adjusted in the future if the claims activity is higher or lower than expected. The decision to increase the HSA was made after a careful review of Unit 2 HSA claims … Read More
General Membership Meeting – Feb 2nd – 5:30
Our next General Membership Meeting will take place: February 2, 2011 5:30pm MUMC 1A5 (hospital, 1st floor, by the William’s) Agenda items will include: -Bylaw Amendments (carried forward from the last meeting) Articles 3b, 4 & 5. -Elections – Vice President, Chief Steward Unit 2, Equity Officer, Health & Safety Reps (all faculties) Food will be available. Childcare reimbursement also … Read More
Support Sessional Faculty at Trent
CUPE 3908 includes more than 600 workers who work as contract faculty, part-time course instructors, workshop leaders, and markers. Contract faculty already earn less than half the average hourly rate of their similarly qualified full-time colleagues and the gap has widened over the past decade. Because of the difficulties in organizing this part-time, insecure labour force, universities have been able … Read More
Report from CAUT workshop
This past weekend–while seemingly everyone else was at the CUPE Ontario Convention–I was attending the “New Presidents Workshop” hosted by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). Now, I am neither new nor the president, but the President has delegated me to represent us (the Unit 2 members, that is) who are in fact new to CAUT membership. The purpose of the membership was to outline the responsibilities of local executive, to offer solutions for the challenges that await them, and to introduce and highlight the resources CAUT provides its members. Since we have a fairly elaborate and thorough structure within CUPE, we are ahead of the curve as compared to many of the faculty associations, who in many cases also do not enjoy the benefits of being members of a certified union. That said, the workshop did offer many helpful tips and insights. Moreover, in terms of resources, CAUT can provide complementary and also supplementary services to those we already within CUPE. The most obvious example is Academic Freedom. Simply put, if this is under threat, CAUT is the place to turn to defend this cornerstone of academic life. The CAUT Benefits Trust was also interesting. It operates similarly to our own practice of benefits funds being allocated with and through a third-party. However, in this case, CAUT will use its size and leverage to negotiate the best deal for members. Unfortunately, it is in its infancy and only one group has signed up for it. Nobody wants to be the first and it has yet to be implemented for Contract Academic Staff.
Who are Contract Faculty?
In Nov. 2009, I was invited to speak on the status and the culture of Contract Faculty at a conference at the University of Guelph. Several terrific panels and conversations occurred (and I gave my paper, too). One of things arising from the conference was a strong desire and pressing need to improve the data collection on Contract Faculty. Effectively, … Read More
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