September General Membership Meeting – Sept 20th at 2 pm (online)

Brad WalchukUncategorized

CUPE 3906 will be hosting it’s first General Membership Meeting, or GMM, of the new academic year on Wednesday, September 20th at 2 p.m. Due to scheduling and room availability on campus (which is especially busy this time of year) the meeting will be in an on-line only format. We expect to be back with hybrid meetings for our October 18th meeting.

You can find the registration link for the September GMM here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tceygrTwiHdO8tI_-UE-F5wlN1-Efo5dI

At this meeting, we will be holding elections for Vice President and Chief Steward, Unit 3. The latter position is restricted to current postdoctoral fellows. We will also be presenting and voting upon an operating budget for the 2023-24 fiscal/academic year.

NEW Postdoc Benefits and Entitlements as September 1, 2023

Brad WalchukUncategorized

Dear Postdocs,
We wanted to remind you about important changes to your entitlement under the collective agreement that came into effect today (September 1, 2023). These improvements were the direct result of the support that the bargaining team received from postdocs during our most recent round of collective bargaining.
  • Effective September 1, 2023, the minimum salary increases from $40,000 per year to $42,500 per year for full-time work (or a pro-rated equivalent). Anyone making less than $42,500 per year for full-time work will see a wage increase on your next pay cheque. If you are entitled to this increase and do not see it, please let us know.
  • Your entitlement under the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) has increased from $300 per academic year to $450 per academic year, also effective September 1st. This account covers many items that are not covered or not fully covered by your SunLife health and dental plan. More information on the HCSA, including an expense form, can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/post-doc-health-spending-account/
  • Most importantly, the new (and vastly improved) SunLife health and dental plan is now in place. The new plan offers considerable improvements to virtually all items, and covers many at 100% (up to a maximum of $500 per year). A comparison of the previous plan to the new plan can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/files/2023/06/Postdoc-Health-and-Dental-Plan-Summary-Chart.pdf
  • The new SunLife plan is available at no cost to you and your dependents, though you will need to enroll your dependents to ensure they have access. You should have received a link to this form from human resources: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2019/01/Fillable-Extended-Health-and-Dental-Positive-Enrolment-Form-for-Active-Members_May-2020-1.pdf). The new SunLife plan means that the existing Equitable Life dental plan ended on August 31, 2023. Existing expenses incurred prior to September 1, 2023 can still be made and must be submitted to Equitable Life within 60 days of when the expense occurred.
  • Your professional development allowance recently increased to $1000 per year. More information on that, as well as the application form, can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/postdoctoral-fellow-professional-development-fund/
  • In our most recent round of bargaining, we also secured a Gender Affirmation Fund and Reproductive Health Fund, which covers up to $2000 per academic year for eligible expenses. More information on that, as well as the application form, can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/gender-affirmation-fund-reproductive-health-fund/
  • Finally, we also secured improvements to the Postdoctoral Support Fund, which now provides up to $750 per year to cover eligible expenses, including child care, moving/relocation costs, and other unexpected or one-time emergency costs. The application for that fund is available here: https://gs.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2020/01/postdoctoral_support_fund_2017.pdf (please note you only need to fill out ‘part B’ in your initial application).
In solidarity,
CUPE 3906 Staff and Executive Committee

TA Professionalism, Rights, and Responsibilities Workshop

Brad WalchukUncategorized

Teaching Assistants at McMaster University are required to complete paid training to do their jobs. This year, there is the opportunity for some of that training to take place in-person, on the McMaster campus, on the morning of September 6th or September 11th.

This workshop reviews what it means to be a CUPE Local 3906 Unit 1 member and covers different aspects of professionalism to set TAs up for success at McMaster.

Registration for the in-person training is required, and spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis:

Register via Eventbrite

Note: this is an in-person offering of one of two required workshops for mandatory TA training. New CUPE Local 3906, Unit 1 employee are required to complete 5-hours of mandatory training. The training includes a module on Anti-Oppression (2-hours) and TA Rights & Responsibilities (1-hour). The additional 2-hours of training are selected from a menu of centrally offered elective workshops. Online asynchronous versions of all workshops are available on Avenue to Learn. Register for the remaining workshops through the regulatory training tile in Mosaic to complete the 5 hours. Once registered, the training will be available in Avenue to Learn approximately 15 minutes after registration.

Please bring an electronic device with you and enroll in your Faculty-based course prior to attending the in-person workshop as you’ll be completing a short online quiz at the end of the workshop. This quiz must be completed to receive payment for the training.

Fall 2023 Teaching Assistant (UNIT 1) and Sessional Faculty (UNIT 2) Dental Rates and Change of Coverage Forms are Now Available!

Mary Ellen CampbellUncategorized

Dental coverage rates and change of coverage forms for CUPE 3906 Members working as Classification “A” Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants (in Lieu) and/or Sessional Faculty in the Fall 2023 Term are now available!

Classification “A” Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants (in Lieu) with contracts to work in the Fall 2023 Term should click here for an important dental coverage letter, and visit our dental coverage website to obtain more information and forms to opt-out of dental coverage or enroll in family dental coverage for the 2023-2024 academic year. The deadline for Unit 1 members to submit forms and supporting documentation is: September 24, 2023.  Please submit forms and supporting documentation to administrator@cupe3906.org.

Sessional Faculty and Hourly Rated Sessional Music Faculty members with contracts to work in the Fall 2023 term should click here for an important dental coverage letter, and visit our dental coverage website to obtain more information and forms to opt-out of dental coverage or enroll in family dental coverage for the 2023-2024 academic year. The deadline for Unit 2 members to submit forms and supporting documentation is: October 1st, 2023.  Please submit forms and supporting documentation to administrator@cupe3906.org.

Please note that Classification “A” Unit 1 members and Unit 2 members must submit change of coverage forms every academic year to maintain opt-out or family coverage status.  Members who wish to default to single dental coverage do not need to submit enrollment forms. (In other words, Classification “A” Unit 1 members and Unit 2 members are automatically enrolled in our single dental coverage by the Employer).

Finally, please be aware that there is a coverage “black out” period that occurs starting every September 1, which can last into October.  This means that members who are eligible for our coverage but incur eligible expenses during this period may experience significant delays in the payment of eligible dental claims.  Unfortunately, this is the result of payroll schedules over which we have no control.  Eligible members can incur eligible expenses during the blackout period, but there will be a delay in reimbursements for these claims.

Sessional Faculty Training Fund (up to $300)- Continuing in 2023-24 academic year

Brad WalchukUncategorized

The Training Fund for Sessional Faculty will continue to provide limited, one-time payments for members who complete select training through the Paul R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching prior to August 30, 2024.
The eligible training includes the 2023 Sessional Faculty Orientation, the Learning to Teach Online Course, any of the EDUCATN courses that comprise the Teaching & Learning Certificates of Completion Program, the Instructional Skills Workshop, the Course (re)Design Workshop, the Assessment Development Workshop, and Professor Hippo-on-Campus (McMaster’s Student Mental Health Education Program for Educators and Navigators).
Payment is capped at $100 per member for each completed training, to a maximum of $300 per member, per year. More information, and the list of available courses, can be found here:

Sessional Faculty and Hourly Rated Sessional Music Faculty Training Opportunity and Training Funds

Mary Ellen CampbellUncategorized

Teaching & Learning Resource Fair (Aug 17, 2023), New Faculty Orientation (Aug 29, 2023), and Training Fund reminder
Unit 2 Members (Sessional Faculty and Hourly Rated Music Faculty) are invited to participate in McMaster’s Teaching & Learning Resource Fair, as part of New Faculty Orientation on Thursday, August 17th, 2023, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm in L.R. Wilson. The Resource Fair is intended to “provide new faculty with an opportunity to become familiar with teaching-related resources, departments, and facilities at McMaster.”
Also, Registration for the 2023 New Sessional Faculty Orientation, taking place on Aug 29, 2023 at 10:30 A.M., is now open: 
This orientation is put on by the MacPherson Institute, who states: “In this 1.5-hour online synchronous orientation, you will learn about the McMaster teaching context and effective teaching practices, and connect with other McMaster sessional faculty.”  Please click the link above for more information.
The orientation, as well as other select courses put on by the MacPherson Institute, are now eligible courses for which you can receive funding under our Unit 2 Training Fund.  For more information, and to obtain an application form, please visit https://cupe3906.org/sessionals-unit-2/training-fund/

McCall-MacBain Postdoc Applications

Brad WalchukUncategorized

The McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching and Leadership Program is now accepting applications for our 2023-2024 cohort.

This unique, one-of-a-kind program is open to all postdoctoral fellows at McMaster University and is now accepting limited spots for regional partners. Interdisciplinary postdocs from around the region will come together on the McMaster campus once a week to network, collaborate and hone their teaching, communication, as well as leadership skills. Postdocs will gain an edge in the highly competitive academic job market as well as expand their reach in industry (attached please find further information about this past year’s cohort)

The program runs from September – May (1 day/week). By the end of the 8-month term, postdocs will receive two certifications: one for Teaching (The Instructional Skills workshop from the MacPherson Institute) as well as one for Leadership (Postdocs Leadership Certification from the DeGroote School of Business).

If you are a postdoctoral fellow at McMaster University and interested in this professional development opportunity, visit our website for more information or email the program manager Katie George

Ready to Apply? Complete the Application https://forms.office.com/r/LQcMqECsNc

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Call for Proposals – Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowships

The University of Toronto is pleased to announce the second call for applications for  the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship, a program of Schmidt Futures, which brings together the brightest minds who have completed a PhD in the natural sciences or engineering and who aim to pursue a research project that includes the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to their domain. The program will fund cutting edge applications of AI in the natural sciences and engineering and creates a community of interdisciplinary leaders.

OVERVIEW

Value: $85,000 CDN/year, plus benefits

Applicants must demonstrate clear expertise and promise within their field of study. Experience with AI is not a requirement, but applicants must have a desire to learn new AI methodologies that stand to accelerate discoveries in their domain. These Fellowships will fund research and provide training in AI and related computational skills to support new directions in the application of AI.

Award Start Date: Between May 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025

Duration: 2 years of funding through the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship program.

Note: there is a possibility for a 3rd year global research exchange, industry internship, and/or teaching-focused postdoctoral experience, pending the availability of funding from the host supervisor(s), Mitacs, and/or an alternate source of funding.

Application Deadline: Monday, October 2, 2023 (5PM EST)

Adjudication Meeting: November 2023

Notifications: December 2023

Further Information: https://schmidtfellows.utoronto.ca

Questions? Please contact Amanda Mohabeer at schmidtfutures@utoronto.ca

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Developing Your EQ for Professional Success

July 25, 2023

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and regulate one’s emotions and understand the emotions of others. This is relevant as it allows you to communicate effectively, empathize with others, and be both self and socially aware. This talk will discuss emotional intelligence (EQ) and its impact on career success, job performance, and stronger mental health. Participants will learn the definition of EQ & understand how it differs from IQ, be introduced to the four parts of EQ, and acquire ways to develop and strengthen EQ, including increasing self-awareness, developing empathy, identifying emotions, and embracing differences.

Speaker: Diane A. Safer, Ph.D., director, career and professional development for graduate students & postdocs; assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Register for this online workshop from the National Postdoctoral Association

Unit 3 (Postdoc) Collective Agreement Ratified – Important Gains Secured for Members

Brad WalchukUncategorized

We are happy to announce that the collective agreement which postdocs voted in favour of in April is now in place, as the employer (McMaster University) ratified the agreement at a Board of Governors meeting last week. This agreement, and the gains contained within it, would not have been possible without the support and solidarity that postdocs have shown over the past 12 months. A tentative version of your new collective agreement can be found here (a finalized version will be posted before the end of the week).

Wages

The current base/minimum salary for postdocs has increased from $36,200 per year to $40,000 per year (effective immediately) and will increase again to $42,500 on September 1, 2023. Any postdoc earning less than the minimum will receive an immediate increase to their yearly salary to the new minimum rate. By September 1, 2026, the minimum salary will be $50,000 per year, which is currently the highest minimum salary for postdocs in the country. These increases amount to 38.1% over 5 years, with an average of 7.6% per year and an immediate increase of 10.5%.

In addition to these increases, all unionized postdocs employed on June 8, 2023 will receive a bonus of $300. This will be reflected on a forthcoming pay cheque.

Health and Dental Benefits

One of the most notable gains under this collective agreement is a new health and dental benefits plan through SunLife. This will result in significant improvements to the existing SunLife health plan and Equitable Life dental plan and will streamline filing benefits. The existing plans covers most procedures and paramedical services to a maximum of $15 per appointment and $200 per year, while the new plan covers most procedures and services at 100% and to a maximum of $500 per year.

The previous plan covered only psychologists, while the new plan covers Psychologists, Social Workers, Psychotherapists, Psychoanalysts, Registered Clinical Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family therapists. Your new dental plan now covers also covers orthodontic procedures. This plan is fully paid by the employer (for both single coverage and dependent coverage), meaning that you will no longer need to pay $7.29/month for single coverage ($87.48 per year) or $71.94/month for family coverage ($863.28 per year) for dental benefits.

A full comparison and list of the new benefits is available here: https://cupe3906.org/files/2023/06/Postdoc-Health-and-Dental-Plan-Summary-Chart.pdf

The new plan is effective as of September 1, 2023 and the existing plan remains in place until August 31, 2023.  More specific details about the changes to the dental plan are forthcoming; for now, please do see the summary chart linked above.

Health Care Spending Account

In addition to the above increases to the health and dental benefits plan, we have also increased the Health Care Spending Account fund from its current $47,500 to $70,000 per year, with a further increase to $80,000 in 2024. This is the fund that your current Health Care Spending Account comes from. What does this mean for you?

Your benefits committee recently voted to increase your yearly entitlement from $300 per academic year to $450 per academic year. This increase becomes effective as of September 1, 2023 (the current entitlement remains in place until August 31, 2023). The fund covers items that are not covered or not fully covered by the SunLife plan. More information about the HCSA is available here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/post-doc-health-spending-account/.  A new reimbursement form will be available soon.

Gender Affirmation Fund and Reproductive Health Fund

Based on membership feedback and as a commitment to an inclusive and equity-seeking local, your bargaining committee negotiated language to ensure that the health care spending account specifically includes “support for reproductive health and well-being and gender affirming care.”

Your benefits committee has determined that the maximum eligibility will be set at $2,000 per academic year. For clarification, this would mean that members could claim up to $2000 in gender affirming care OR reproductive health care OR some combination of the two e.g., $1000 in gender affirming care and $1000 reproductive health. Entitlement to this fund is retroactive to September 1, 2022.

We are still updating criteria and finalizing an application form, but some information can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/gender-affirmation-fund-reproductive-health-fund/

Professional Development Fund

The Professional Development Fund is a union-administered benefits fund designed to cover/offset various costs (ie/ books, conferences, memberships, etc.). Previously this fund was $47 500, but your bargaining team made significant increases here and the fund is now $80,000 and will increase to $100,000 per year in 2024.

As a result of these increases, your benefits committee has voted to increase your current entitlement from $600 per academic year to $1000 per academic year on a trial basis. The forms will be updated soon, but more information is available here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/postdoctoral-fellow-professional-development-fund/

Postdoctoral Support Fund

The postdoctoral support fund is an employer-administered benefits fund to cover/offset unexpected or emergency costs, extended UHIP, and childcare expenses. In this most recent of bargaining, we secured support for “moving or relocation expenses” and increased your reimbursement entitlement from $500 to $750. An updated and application form and more information will be made available soon, but you can find support fund website here: https://gs.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2020/01/postdoctoral_support_fund_2017.pdf

Other Gains

In addition to the above-noted monetary gains, your bargaining team also secured the following:

  • Anti-Discrimination – a right to be referred to by self-identified gender pronouns
  • Postings- preference in hiring for Indigenous, Inuit, and Metis scholars for postings in Indigenous Studies Dept.
  • Access to email for 12 months following the end of your appointment
  • An additional seat on the health and safety central committee for postdocs
  • Stronger language to not have to work on statutory holidays
  • Supplementary Benefits (ie/ paid leave) were expanded to include miscarriage, stillbirth, and adoption
  • Vacation – a clear ability to carry over and use within 4 months of next calendar year, and ability to receive payout for all unused vacation at end appointment
  • Access to leave, without loss of pay, for members requiring leaves for reproductive health and well-being and gender-affirming care
  • An additional 5 days leave, with pay, for those who require domestic violence leave

To ring in the summer and celebrate these collective gains, all postdocs are invited to a bargaining social event at The Phoenix on June 27 at 5:30 PM with free dinner and drinks.

To RSVP, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6O-LTlX8VhUNRqZc3Nl8RYlIQC1wr201wvzKvsxQatUcv-Q/viewform

Membership Updates – June 2024

Brad WalchukUncategorized

Free First Aid Training

We would like to remind you that Free First Aid Training is a benefit guaranteed under your Collective Agreement and available to all CUPE 3906 members. This is a Standard Red Cross certificate course offered on a number of dates this spring through Athletics and Recreation (https://rec.mcmaster.ca/sites/default/files/images/first_aid_spring_2023_poster_2.pdf).
Further information is available here (https://rec.mcmaster.ca/programs/certifications/first-aid-standard-red-cross). 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. 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. Sessionals and Postdocs, please go through the department where you are employed. This charge cannot be passed on to you. There are occasionally issues with registration, so please let us know if there are issues with your registration.

Please note, this is not a course offered by CUPE – we only secure access under your collective agreement and we do not handle the registration.

HCSA Reminder

CUPE 3906 members have access to a Health Care Spending Account. The specific amount varies from unit to unit and is secured through collective bargaining. This account covers items approved by Revenue Canada and can be used to cover items not covered or not fully covered by another benefits plan. Access for Sessionals and Postdocs is per academic year (which ends on August 31, 2023), so making use of the fund over the summer will maximize your entitlement. For information about TA eligibility, please click the “Unit 1” link.)

Dental Insurance Coverage Period

Please note that your dental coverage runs per academic year. If you have worked at any point during the 2022-23 academic year, you have until August 31, 2023 to make a claim. Members who continue to work in the fall semester will have continued access, but if you are not expecting to work at McMaster in 2023-24, you may want to make a dental claim before the end of the summer.

(Please note that the amount you can claim renews according to the calendar year, but your access to any funds is governed by your employment as a CUPE 3906 member in any given academic year/eligibility period.  In other words, you can only access the yearly reimbursement funds if you are currently eligible in the current academic year.)

Gender Affirmation Fund: Update and Committee

Through collective bargaining, Unit 1 members (TAs and RAs in lieu) have access to a Gender Affirmation Fundhttps://cupe3906.org/tas-unit-1/gender-affirmation-fund/. Postdocs will have access to a similar fund following the collective agreement ratification process.
We are seeking trans and non-binary members to participate in a committee that will review the fund in Unit 1 and help to establish the parameters for the fund in Unit 3. We are particularly interested in hearing from TAs/RAs who have made use of the existing gender affirmation fund. Please contact benefits@cupe3906.org or reply to this email if you are interested in advising on the fund in Unit 3.

Call for Unit 2 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 and build a strong network of sessional stewards across departments. Unit 2 members that have taught the past, current, and upcoming terms are eligible.

If you want to do this crucial service to your fellow workers, please get in contact with Unit 2 Lead Steward Carolyn Capretta at leadsteward_sessionals@cupe3906.org. There is also a small honorarium per term set out in our budget in recognition of the valuable work our Stewards do.

Join a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC)

Interested in Health and Safety for your workplace? Join a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC)! Email healthandsafety@cupe3906.org if interested.