CUPE 3906

1. Postdoc day! (July 10th 2024) a free event for all Canadian postdocs or postdocs working in Canada. The day will include Online or in person attendance, a keynote speaker, workshops and networking opportunities. To register for this event CLICK HERE 
2. Wellness and networking event (July 10th evening) Free event to allow postdocs and academics to recenter, reset and rejuvenate. The event includes Yoga, Wellness strategies and discussion with Author, Carla Labella as well as light refreshments. (registration via the EdCog conference registration)
3. EdCog Conference workshop and speaker days (July 11-12) postdocs receive a 50% discount with code POSTDOC50. To register for this event CLICK HERE

• Application form: https://forms.office.com/r/K37pKjhF21

This is an important update that is relevant to Sessionals who did not teach in Fall 2023 or Winter 2024 and are teaching for the first time this academic year in Spring/Summer 2024.

For those of you who began teaching in May and did not opt out of the Unit 2 Dental Plan by the widely publicized opt out deadline, the $150 single premium will be deducted from next week’s pay cheque (June 12th). The plan offers $1000 per calendar year (January 1 to December 31) in dental services. You can find out additional information about coverage and how to make claims here: https://cupe3906.org/sessionals-unit-2/unit-2-dental-coverage/

For Sessionals who have yet to teach in the 2023/24 academic year, you will have $1000 of dental coverage which can be backdated for any approved procedures/services since September 1, 2023. Your eligibility ends as of August 31, 2024 (unless you secure a fall 2024 contract).

There is no change or impact for members who have already taught in either Fall 2023 or Winter 2024.

If you have any questions about this, please direct them to Fran, our benefits administrator: administrator@cupe3906.org 

In June 2023, the Unit 3 Professional Development Fund reimbursement was increased to $1,000 per academic year per eligible member. Only eligible expenses (see below) incurred while working as a CUPE 3906 Unit 3 member will be reimbursed up to the maximum academic yearly amount.

The fund currently covers expenses related to: conference participation, professional association fees, academic books, research journal subscriptions, leadership development courses, McMaster courses not covered by the tuition waiver policy, Research Journal Subscriptions, Leadership Development courses, Language courses as eligible expenses, and limited technological costs such as software (but generally not hardware).

To provide greater entitlements to members, your elected benefits committee is thinking about the following changes and we want to you from you. Possible options for increasing your entitlements include:

1. Incorporating Technology Expenses: We’re considering adding technology-related expenses, such as laptops, within the Postdoc Development Fund. Previously, these items weren’t covered, but we believe this adjustment could greatly benefit your research endeavors. We welcome your thoughts on this proposal.
2. Increasing Postdoctoral Development Fund (currently up to $1000 per academic year).We’re exploring the possibility of raising the Postdoc Development Fund. This increase aims to better support your professional growth and research activities. We’re keen to hear your opinions on this potential adjustment.
3. Combining a Cap for Hardware Technology with a Small Increase in the Postdoc Development Fund: Another option on the table is to provide a smaller increase in the Postdoc Development Fund and develop a cap technology expense to a specific amount to be determined by the committee. This approach aims to provide flexibility while still ensuring adequate support for both research and technological needs. We’re eager to hear your thoughts on this proposal as well.

To gather your feedback efficiently, please fill out the attached form and provide any additional comments or suggestions you may have. Your input is invaluable in helping us make informed decisions that benefit the entire unit.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification on any of the proposed changes.

 For a link to the survey, please email staff@cupe3906.org or leadsteward_postdocs@cupe3906.org 

The International Committee from CUPE 3906 is organizing a workshop titled “Understanding the Hong Kong Labour Movement” in collaboration with the Solidarity Place Worker Education Centre and the UK Labour Rights Monitor.

The event will be held in a hybrid format, and you will be provided with a Zoom registration link following your registration if you plan on attending online.

Food and drinks will be provided to in-person participants.

Venue: Solidarity Place Worker Education Centre (51 Adair Ave South)

Date: June 12th,2024, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm

The Bylaws Committee will meeting soon and members can submit recommendations for bylaws changes to the committee.

Please send any proposed bylaw changes or recommendations to our VP, Mason, at vicepresident@cupe3906.org in advance of the meeting.

You can find our current bylaws here

Our next General Membership Meeting will be held on June 10th from 2pm to 4pm. We’ll be sharing updates and discussing monetary and policy motions. Advanced registration is required.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkd-morT0rH93vmeyz6Z_C494HvsJors5b

Join us on May 8th for an online training session in support of Unit 2 bargaining. The Mobilizing for Bargaining training is great for anyone interested in getting involved with the Bargaining Support Team. Space is limited and registration is required. For more info and t register, visit https://cupe.ca/mrm-union-education/event/7552

Our next General Membership Meeting (GMM) will take place on May 13th from 2-4pm over zoom. You can register in advance here. We’ll be sharing important updates from the Unit 2 bargaining team and discussing monetary and policy motions.

You are invited to two upcoming Hamilton labour events! The International Day of Mourning for Workers killed and Injured on the job (April 28th), and May Day (May 1st), the global celebration of workers’ power.  Details below!

Day of Mourning 2024

May Day 2024

Last year CUPE Local 2278 had a campaign to unionize graduate research assistants. Despite thousands of UBC student workers expressing their desire for change by signing union cards, UBC has failed to recognize their rights as workers. The decision on this from the labour relations board is expected April 30th. 

Local 2278 is looking for support from other unionized workers, particularly in the university and education sectors, to tell UBC that research is work. 

The University of British Columbia is the largest university in BC and one of the largest in Canada. Yet it is one of the last universities in the country without a union for graduate research assistants.

The lack of a union has prevented UBC student workers from being able to affect their working conditions and negotiate for fair wages. It has meant that they face workplace issues alone, including inadequate health and safety protocols, unclear or inconsistent hiring processes, unchallenged harassment, lack of support for mental health, and widespread overwork and burnout.

To date, thousands of UBC student workers have signed union cards because they want change. Last spring, UBC graduate research assistants signed enough cards to pass the threshold for automatic union certification. And yet, UBC refuses to acknowledge them as workers.

UBC could not function without the contributions of graduate researchers and other academic workers, and they deserve the support and protections of a union.

Tell UBC: Research is Work! Add your name if you agree.

Petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-ubc-research-is-work?source=ta