FREE Movie Tickets for WAHC Fundraiser

Brad WalchukUncategorized

At our last GMM we passed a motion support the annual fundraising efforts of the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre. The WAHC is the only brick and mortar labour and art museum in Canada and this year their SAM 26 initiative involves screening labour-related films at the Playhouse Cinema in Hamilton.
We have purchased 10 movie tickets which are available to ten members on a first come, first serve basis. If you’re interested, please review the details below and then email president@cupe3906.org with your movie preference by Wednesday at 5pm.
Date: Sunday November 21st
Location: Playhouse Cinema – 177 Sherman Avenue North in Hamilton. Proof of full vaccination and identification required.
Movie option 1: Peterloo at 4pm
Movie option 2: Pride at 7pm

Read more about these films and the fundraising initiative here.

In solidarity,

The CUPE 3906 Executive

CUPE 3906 International Cookbook–with discounts–is here!

Mary Ellen CampbellUncategorized

Our International Committee and McMaster’s Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) have been hard at work compiling our members’ favourite recipes from across the globe!

CLICK HERE to download a copy of the cookbook!

 

Feeling inspired to try some of its recipes? Then check out the video below for discounts at local ethnic grocery stores and restaurants that our International Committee found for us:

 

Happy cooking!

 

CUPE Ontario’s campaign for a wealth tax

Brad WalchukUncategorized

CUPE Ontario has started a campaign demanding a wealth tax. The ongoing hardship of the pandemic has laid bare the rampant inequality in this province:

  • Demand at food banks across the country has increased, with Ontario being one of three provinces seeing the greatest increase in visits.

  • Under Bill 124, our Members, among hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, have had their wage and benefit increases restrained below the rate of inflation.

  •  Housing costs continue to skyrocket.

  •  The rent freeze is set to end January 1st even as many still haven’t recovered from a pandemic that, let’s not forget, isn’t even over yet.

Meanwhile, the wealth of billionaires has grown by billions, year after year, such that Ontario now has the highest income inequality in Canada. We need to take action to reverse years of tax cuts for the wealthy.

Far too many Ontarians are now stretched thin and stressed out. It’s time to institute changes to our tax system where those who can afford to pay more start paying their fair share.

Tell Doug Ford that it’s time for a wealth tax in Ontario by clicking here: https://cupe.on.ca/wealthtax/

Solidarity with striking U of Manitoba Professors

Brad WalchukUncategorized

University of Manitoba Faculty Association
c/o Orvie Dingwall, President
100-29 Dysart Rd
Winnipeg, MB
R3T 2M7

Dear Dr. Dingwall,

The CUPE 3906 executive committee, representing over 3000 precarious academic workers
at McMaster University, would like to announce its full support of the University of Manitoba
Faculty Association’s fight for a fairer contract.

We stand in solidarity with your members, who have walked out on strike after failed
negotiations with the university’s administration. We continue to stand in support of the
ongoing fight for fair wages and working conditions across the academic and non-academic
sector.

In Solidarity,

Sharoni Mitra, President, CUPE Local 3906

2021 Postdoc Halloween gathering

cupe3906vpUncategorized

SUNDAY: Postdoc Halloween gathering

 

The time has come for our Postdocs to celebrate together this spooky season! Please join our SPECIAL Halloween Gathering on Sunday, October 31, from 2 to 4pm in front of JHE building’s main entrance. Take this great opportunity to connect with other Postdocs while enjoying delicious snacks. Feel free to bring your family members, especially your loving kids, we have kindly prepared Halloween gift baskets for each of our loving kids. You are also more than welcome to bring any homemade cookies or treats to share!

Please note that the gathering will be outside of the JHE building, but will move to JHE lobby if it is raining.

If you have any questions, please contact our Chief Steward, Kezhuan.

Paid TA Training

Brad WalchukUncategorized

It has come to our attention that a few people haven’t completed their paid training yet. This training is mandatory and besides giving us an opportunity to become better TAs, it is paid at our hourly TA rate. For steps on how to register and answers to common questions, please see this link: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/employees/health_safety_well-being/our-safety/health-and-safety-training/ta-training/
For everyone who completed their training on time, you will be paid automatically on October 22nd.  Once that pay is processed, you should see a separate line on your MOSAIC pay statement for the 5 hours of training.

Free First Aid Training

Brad WalchukUncategorized

We want to remind you that Free First Aid Training is a benefit guaranteed under your Collective Agreement and available to all CUPE 3906 members.  The course, a Standard Red Cross certificate course, is offered on a number of dates this spring through Athletics and Recreation, and the cost of registration is covered by the Employer. Dates for the ten different two-day sessions, and further information, are available here. You will need to attend both days in order to receive the certificate.

The sessions are being held on campus. If you have questions about the specifics of the material being offered, please contact Athletics and Recreation at ext. 24464. They are the ones who are offering and teaching the class. Online registration is not an option. If you are a TA/RA in lieu and working in a different department/program other than the one that you are registered in as a student, registration should be done through the department in which you are employed. Normally, the Administrator from the department that employs you will need to register you as they must provide the departmental code so the cost can be billed accordingly. This charge cannot be passed on to you.

 

October 18th- Vaccination Update and Campus Access

Brad WalchukUncategorized

Below is the most recent update we have from McMaster regarding vaccination status and access to work/campus, effective today (October 18th). Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns, if you have been informed you’ll be placed on unpaid leave (or other forms of disciplinary action), if you have an exemption request denied, or general questions and concerns about your safety and the safety of your workplace.

As of Monday, October 18th, if you have not uploaded proof of vaccination or received an approved exemption you will not be permitted to access campus or McMaster-affiliated sites for any reason. 

Employees who are currently approved to work remotely 

In some areas of the University staff and faculty are working fully remotely this fall, with approval of their VP. If you have been working remotely and are not expected to be back on site for the balance of the fall term, please speak with your supervisor to confirm that you can continue with this work arrangement until the end of 2021. During this time you are not permitted to access campus or a McMaster-affiliated site for any reason.  

As of Winter 2022, all employees will be expected to work on-site at least occasionally. Any staff or faculty who are not in compliance with the Vaccination Policy as of January 2022 will be subject to termination of employment (or faculty removal proceedings). 

Employees who are currently working on site 

As of October 18th, employees who have been working on site (in a full or part-time capacity) but have not uploaded proof of vaccination to MacCheck will not be permitted to access campus or McMaster-affiliated sites for any reason.  

If you are in this situation, please notify your supervisor as soon as possible and follow normal protocols for reporting an absence. 

You may be placed on an unpaid leave of absence as early as Monday, October 18th. You may use any earned vacation, compensating time off or personal days before starting unpaid leave. Ultimately, ongoing non-compliance with the Vaccination Policy may result in the termination of your employment with the University. 

We recognize that in some cases individuals have started the course of vaccination, but are not yet considered fully vaccinated. Once individuals are considered fully vaccinated, they will be able to return to normal duties this Fall. 

HR is working with supervisors to clarify the situation for individual employees and you will be contacted by HR the week of October 18th to discuss specifics related to your situation.  Any approvals for remote work must be approved by the appropriate Vice-President.  Such arrangements will be very limited and VP approval is required to ensure a consistent approach is used across campus and across all employee groups. 

Resources 

We recognize that this is a challenging time for many of our employees. If you need support, the Employee and Family Assistance Program may be accessed for wellness advice or referrals 24 hours per day, 7 days per week (www.homeweb.ca or 1-800-663-1142). 

CUPE National Pension Summit

Brad WalchukUncategorized

Join CUPE members from across the country for our virtual National Pension Summit to share strategies about how to improve access to pensions for part-time and other precarious workers.

The summit will take place entirely online October 27, 2021, from noon to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Registration is open now and closes on October 22, 2021.

Mandatory Vaccination Update

Brad WalchukUncategorized

UPDATE: The Ontario Human Rights Commission has published a statement where it defends that vaccination requirements are generally permissible, and that personal preferences and singular beliefs are not protected:  http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/ohrc-policy-statement-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-and-proof-vaccine-certificates . While the OHRC’s opinion is not law, it is an authoritative statement and is a good indication of what courts could decide on this matter.
Our staff has elaborated a great guide for vaccine questions! It can be viewed by clicking on this link: https://cupe3906.org/2021/09/14/mandatory-vaccination-your-rights-and-mandatory-covid-vaccination-policies/ (a PDF version is available for download at the bottom of the page)

In related news, CUPE Ontario recently held a Vaccination Policies Town Hall with experts discussing the appropriate policies, law and medical data. If you were unable to attend or want find out more relevant information, visit: cupe.on.ca/vaccinepolicyinfo/ . More resources can also be found at:  https://covid19resources.ca/public/vaccineqa/