CUPE Local 3906 was happy to provide support to help offset the costs of producing Unsheltered: The Zine. UNSHELTERED the zine is a community art project featuring the stories of unhoused women and gender-diverse folks living outside of Hamilton’s shelter system. The September 2021 issue features art from folks who currently and/or previously sleep rough, live in encampments, or access YWCA’s Transitional Living Program(TLP), Carole Anne’s Place (CAP),and/or Willow’s Place (WP). Each artist was asked to create apiece of art that represents their experience being unhoused in Hamilton. A full PDF version of Unsheltered is available here.
Paid TA- MOSAIC update
Update regarding Unit 1 Paid Training Program
In November 2019, your union secured 5 hours of paid training through collective bargaining. This could not have been secured without the support of the membership. The training program was first developed over this past summer and was implemented at the start of this term. When it was negotiated, the Union, in good faith, was led to believe that that training program would apply to all members of Unit 1, and we believe that the language in the Collective Agreement reflects this.
Mandatory Vaccination- Accommodations and Exemptions Update
We have another update from the Employer regarding the process for requesting exemptions/accommodations around the vaccination mandate.
McMaster has released their finalized version of the policy that mandates vaccinations for students and employees:
Vaccination Policy – COVID-19 Requirements for Employees and Students: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/resources/covid-19-vaccination-policy/
The Employer has also directed us to the following FAQ that has a section dedicated to the process of requesting accommodations/exemptions:
In terms of the exemption process, there is a section online in the FAQs dedicated to how to seek an exemption – this includes a link to the appropriate forms and process (see Step 4B): https://covid19.mcmaster.ca/vaccination-mandate/#tab-content-im-not-fully-vaccinated.
If you have questions about being vaccinated against COVID-19, our national union has developed the following helpful FAQ: https://cupe.ca/sites/cupe/files/faq_vaccines_covid19_en_0.pdf
Wanted: Department Stewards
Stewards hold one of the most important positions in our Union, they are our eyes and ears in every department and are vital to inform both their departments and the rest of the Union about what is going on. We are constantly looking for more motivated people to fulfill this role.
If you want to do this crucial service to your fellow workers, please fill out one of the forms here and send it to us! There is also a small honorarium set in our budget in recognition of the valuable work our Stewards do.
We are also planning to host one of CUPE National’s training for Stewards. If you are a Steward, or if you wish to become one, we highly recommend that you take this free training. You only need to send an email to organizingchair@cupe3906.org expressing your interest!
Lastly, if you want to participate more in the Union, but not as a Steward, we encourage you to check out our other committees and get in touch with their chairs, your help is always appreciated and needed!
CUPE 3906 Bargaining Bulletin #3
HAMILTON, ON — AUGUST 30th, 2021
CUPE 3906’s Unit 2 Bargaining Team met again with our counterparts from the McMaster University Administration for three days of negotiations between August 23rd and August 27th, 2021.
Progress at the table was slow, but the Parties arrived at some agreement in administrative and procedural areas such as Information, the Grievance Procedure, and Equal Pay. Unfortunately, the Employer continued to refuse to provide meaningful gains to your priority areas, including Job Security, Pensions, and Professional Supports.
CUPE 3906’s team presented our first full monetary pass and was working on a counter to the Employer’s response. The parties left the table on Friday evening (August 27th), with plans to continue negotiations, although no dates have been set.
Although the Employer has not taken an aggressive stance with outright concessions this round, they do not seem to be very receptive to improvements in member priority areas, and see the existing agreement as acceptable for the next three years. We disagree. The Employer is also firm on fulfilling its legal obligations to restrict wages and compensation for the next two years under the Conservative’s infamous Bill 124. CUPE is one of several Unions signed on to a constitutional challenge of the legislation, which limits the rights of Public Sector workers to bargain in a free and collective manner. As CUPE Ontario President, Fred Hahn, has pointed out, the legislation makes it impossible for front-line Public Sector workers to keep up with inflation, which is currently over 3%.
“It’s very frustrating to be forced to work within the imposed legislative restrictions while facing the Employer’s seeming lack of interest to make improvements even to non-monetary language that would make the lives of some of its most precarious employees less stressful,” says Mary Ellen Campbell, CUPE 3906 staff. “Negotiations are the only time when we can make secure gains for our members that are guaranteed under the Collective Agreement, and we can’t afford to wait another three years to make improvements.”
“Some of our proposals, including a targeted pension benefit, actually require very little effort or cost on the part of the Employer, but offer a world of difference to our members, some of whom have been working for McMaster University for 20 or even 30 years or more with nothing to show for retirement,” says Sharoni Mitra, CUPE 3906 President. “McMaster likes to claim that it treats its employees equally, but even this ask, which is much less than what most of our counterparts across the table enjoy, seems to have no traction with them.”
CUPE 3906’s team will solicit dates to continue negotiations with the Employer into the fall term. We will continue to update members on our progress, and encourage you, the members, to show your support for your elected bargaining team by joining our bargaining support committee, following our progress and activities on email and social media, and keeping in touch with comments and questions by emailing mobilizer@cupe3906.org. It’s your contract!
Our next Bargaining Support Committee Meeting will be scheduled soon- an email with the date/time will follow.
Sessional Faculty, Hourly Rated Sessional Music Faculty, and MELD Sessional Faculty working at McMaster University comprise CUPE 3906’s Unit 2. The current collective agreement expires on August 31.
A PDF version of this update can be found here..
Updates from Your Union
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*IMPORTANT AND TIME-SENSITIVE INFORMATION ABOUT TA/RA (IN LIEU) DENTAL COVERAGE*
- If you are working as a Classification ‘A’ Unit 1 member and would like to enroll in family dental coverage, you may do so until September 27th, 2021, by filling out a family coverage enrollment form available under the “Important Information” and “Forms” heading of our Unit 1 dental website: https://cupe3906.org/tas-unit-1/dental-plan/ (Please note that you must re-enroll in family dental coverage every academic year if you would like to keep your family coverage active. Members automatically default to single coverage every year due to McMaster’s payroll system.)
- If you are working as a Classification ‘Unit 1 member in the fall and already have dental coverage through a parent or spouse and would like to opt-out of the plan, you may do so until September 27th, 2021, by filling out an opt-out form and providing appropriate proof of alternate coverage. Instructions on opting out, regulations around adequate proof of alternate coverage, and opt-out forms are available under the “Important Information” and “Forms” heading of our Unit 1 dental website: https://cupe3906.org/tas-unit-1/dental-plan/ (Please note that you must opt-out every academic year if you have other, non-student, coverage and do not wish to keep the CUPE 3906 coverage. Members automatically default to single coverage every year due to McMaster’s payroll system.)
ISWG 2021-2022 Co-Chair Selection
Good morning everyone!
If anyone has any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!