CUPE 3906

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 17^th pay was the last and final pay of the semester. Your work obligations are over as of April 24^th, 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

1. 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:

https://cupe3906.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/501/cupe-3906-unit-1-spending-account-and-claim-form-july-2025-1.pdf

2. UHIP Rebate

Are you an International Student? UHIP Rebate entitlement is $250 per academic year.

Form:

https://cupe3906.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/501/2023/09/Cupe-3906-UNIT-1-UHIP-250-Rebate-Form-SEPT-2023.pdf

3. 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

4. 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/

5. 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:

https://cupe3906.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/501/2022/01/CUPE-3906-Unit-1-CHILDCARE-CLAIM-FORM-JAN-2022.pdf

6. 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:

https://cupe3906.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/501/cupe-3906-unit-1-gender-affirmation-fund-claim-form-nov-2024.pdf

7. 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/

If you are a Unit 2 member (Sessional Faculty) or a Unit 1 Classification A member (TA or RA in lieu holding an undergraduate degree) who is working in the Spring/Summer 2026 Term (and who did not work in the Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 Term), you can submit dental change of coverage forms until May 25, 2026!

–Unit 2 Members can access more information about opting-out of dental coverage or enrolling in family dental coverage here: https://cupe3906.org/sessionals-unit-2/unit-2-dental-coverage/

–Unit 1 (Classification ‘A’) Members can access more information about opting-out of dental coverage or enrolling in family dental coverage here: https://cupe3906.org/tas-unit-1/dental-plan/

Please contact administrator@cupe3906.org if you require further information.

A final version of the collective agreement is being edited and will soon be available online, but a summary of major gains can be found here and a full text version of the agreement can be found here.

Questions related to Unit 4 can be directed to leadsteward_reslife@cupe3906.org

Following the 2026 Annual General Meeting, a congratulations is in order to the following members who have been elected to a one-year term on the Local Executive Committee:

President- Kusum Bhatta
Vice President – Asim Abbas
Vice President, External – Albert Ashong
Recording Secretary – Reza Farzadnia
Secretary Treasurer – Shivam Gupta
Benefits and Advocacy Officer – Nancy Kansal
Undergraduate Officer – Nabil Rajput
Equity Officer – Yuly Wu
International Officer – Pema Sherpa
Health & Safety Officer – Mahnaz Tajik
Lead Steward, U1 (TAs/RAs in lieu) – . Simran
Lead Steward, U2 (Sessionals) – Dr. Hamed Afshari
Lead Steward, U3 (Postdocs) – Dr. Ketan Ajay
Lead Steward, U4 (Reslife) – Arham Ali

The newly elected Executive Committee takes office as of 12:00 a.m. tomorrow (April 9th). Thanks to all of the candidates who offered for the Executive Committee – there was overwhelming voter turnout for these elections. Thanks also to former Executive Committee members who have moved on – your hard work and service to the Local has been much appreciated.

On March 21, 1960, police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and shot dead 69 people peacefully and courageously demonstrating against pass laws imposed by the government’s racist legal system known as apartheid. This massacre stands as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of racial discrimination.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination honors the lives lost that day and calls on individuals, communities, organizations and governments to fight all forms of racial discrimination.

Understanding racial discrimination

Racial discrimination happens when someone is treated differently or unfairly because of factors like ethnic origin, the colour of their skin, or their language. Racial discrimination takes many forms, including racial profiling, jokes or favouritism.

Systemic racism is woven into the structures and institutions of our society and is less visible. But its impacts on Indigenous, Black and racialized people are all too real. These include precarious employment, inadequate housing and health care, violence, overrepresentation in the criminal justice system, and violations of migrant workers’ fundamental rights.

CUPE’s commitment to fighting racism

Racism persists in our communities, workplaces, and our union. CUPE is committed to fight all forms of racial discrimination. Our union stepped up our work on this commitment with CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy. The strategy’s 10 goals provide a comprehensive six-year road map for challenging and dismantling systemic racism.

To mark March 21, CUPE recognizes the contributions of Indigenous, Black and racialized members who have strengthened our movement with new ideas and perspectives and have helped break down barriers by promoting inclusion and equity.

Act

Fighting racism requires all of us to step up. Here’s how you can make a difference:

• Speak up. If you are facing or witnessing racism, discrimination or harassment, contact your steward to file a grievance or a complaint.
• Engage. Help put CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy into action in your local. Be inspired by its 10 goals to make changes in your workplace.
• Read our new fact sheets about building a more representative CUPE, and use the tips in your local.
• Educate yourself. Take part in Union Education workshops to learn more about anti-racism and how you can intervene when you witness discrimination.
• Send a message to the Liberal government demanding status, not scapegoating, for migrant workers

March 21 isn’t just a day of remembrance, it’s a call to action. Together, we can build a union and a society where racial justice is not just an ideal, but a reality for ourselves and future generations.

Join the Contract Action Team in MUSC 224 on Thursday, March 19th between 10AM and 2PM for free coffee, tea, and snacks!

Bring your union questions or just come to get a treat and say ‘hello’!

We hope to see you there!

We are pleased to share that our Tentative Agreement ratification vote has concluded with 94% of Unit 4 members voting in favour of ratification!

Please note that we are still waiting for McMaster to complete their own ratification process at the March 5th Board of Governors Meeting. Once ratified by McMaster, our Collective Agreement will then take effect.

We’ll have more information to share about the implementation process once the agreement is ratified by McMaster. 

Thank you to everyone who voted and who was involved in this historic first round of bargaining for Residence Life workers!

Attention all CUPE 3906 Members!

Our Annual General Membership Meeting (AGM) will occur on Monday, March 30th, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. via “Zoom”.

Agenda items for the AGM include:

• yearly executive officer and committee reports;
• yearly executive officer elections; and
• trustee election (position expires Fall 2028).

The registration link will be sent to members’ McMaster email address soon. Please check your “other”/”junk”/”notification”/”spam” inboxes for the invitation to register.

Please find the Local’s Bylaws at this link: https://cupe3906.org/about-us/by-laws/

For a description of the Executive Officer Positions, please see Article 5 (starting on page 14) of the Local’s Bylaws. For a description of Trustee Position, please see Article 3(a) of the Local’s Bylaws (starting on page 6).

Article 4 of the Local’s Bylaws (starting on page 8) outlines the guidelines for the nomination, campaign, and election processes.

The Nomination Form for Executive Officer Positions is available at this link: https://cupe3906.org/cupe-3906-executive-position-nomination-form/.  Please follow the instructions on the nomination form carefully. Nominations open on Monday, March 2nd, 2026, and close at the meeting. (If you intend to nominate yourself or someone else from the floor during the AGM, you are not required to submit a nomination form.)

If you have any questions, please contact president@cupe3906.org, brad@cupe3906.org, or mary@cupe3906.org.