CUPE 3906 Unit 3- Postdoc Bargaining Bulletin #6
Unit 3: Postdoctoral Fellows
We have finally begun to see some positive movement on benefits (such as the health care spending account, family dental rebate, and professional development), and we believe this is the result of an engaged and mobilized membership. That said, Bill 124 remains a stumbling block as the Employer seeks to keep compensation to a minimum. We remain concerned about the employer’s proposals on vacation, which are a rollback from the current entitlement. The bargaining team hopes to secure additional dates with the Employer’s team in next month.
Our President wrote an open letter to the McMaster Board of Governors urging Board members to bargain according to what the Employer thinks Postdocs deserve, and not according to the Conservative Government’s draft legislation. A copy of the letter can be viewed at: https://bettermac.ca/2019/10/18/open-letter-to-the-mcmaster-board-of-governors/
Unit 3 is CUPE 3906’s smallest unit with just over 170 members, and consists of postdoctoral fellows working at McMaster University. The current collective agreement expires on August 31.
Pets for CUPE 3906
It’s no secret that academics love their pets! Less known, though, is the fact that our pets have been some of our strongest and bravest supporters in the current round of bargaining with McMaster. Be they dogs, cats, or guinea pigs – they’re all fed up with how the University has handled its negotiations with Units 1 and 3 and they’re not afraid to say it!
If you have a pet who loves TAs and postdocs, we’d love for you to participate in this campaign! There are several laminated signs in the union office (KTH B111) for folks to borrow. Some are specific to dogs and cats and some speak to key bargaining priorities such as TA training, 5th year TA guarantees, better wages, and closing the pay gap between undergraduate and graduate TAs. We will also be making printable PDF versions of these signs available in a separate post.
You can post your own photos to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and tag us @CUPE3906, OR send them our way via Messenger or email using vicepresident@cupe3906.org. We hope that many of you will join us as we continue to increase pressure on the University and look forward to building even greater solidarity in the weeks to come!
#PetsForCUPE3906 #GoodDogsAgainstBadWages
#TeachingConditionsAreLearningConditions
Templates:
GOOD DOGS FOR PAID TA TRAINING
GRUMPY CATS AGAINST 2 TIERED CBAS
TEACHING CONDITIONS ARE LEARNING CONDITIONS
GRUMPY CATS AGAINST BAD WAGES U3
GRUMPY CATS AGAINST BAD WAGES U1
GRUMPY CATS AGAINST 2 TIERED CBAS
GOOD DOGS FOR 5 YEAR TA GUARANTEES
General Membership Meeting- October 30th at noon- BSB 108
- Unit 3 bargaining updates
- Any member questions regarding the conciliation process for Unit 1, set to begin on Nov. 5th
- Election to fill the position of Alternate on the Unit 3 bargaining team
- Voting on member and exec committee proposals
- Electing member delegates to attend this year’s OFL Convention
Unit 2 Dental Plan- Enrollment and Deductions
Letter of Support from the GSA
The McMaster University Graduate Student Association (GSA) recently issued this letter of support:
It is abundantly clear that TAs and RAs in lieu are united in their insistence upon a fair offer from McMaster University. As the GSA rightly notes, the wages of graduate students are “barely enough to support a single adult, much less one who may be supporting a family.” Yet despite this, the employer is seeking to reduce the entitlement to a minimal number of hours associated with a graduate TA guarantee. This will see graduate TAs falling even further behind. A fifth year guarantee – which would be more consistent with the average duration of a graduate program – is needed to ensure that graduate students aren’t without income prior to their graduation. It’s time for a #BetterMac
CUPE 3906 Members Give Strong Strike Mandate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE— CUPE 3906 MEMBERS GIVE STRONG STRIKE MANDATE
Hamilton, ON— Over the past four days, CUPE 3906 (Unit 1) members have provided their bargaining team with a clear strike vote mandate and in so doing have sent a strong message to McMaster: bargain the fair contract that TAs and RAs in lieu deserve. Membership turnout for this vote was the highest in living memory, with 87% voting to authorize strike action, if necessary. These results highlight the importance of the issues at stake to the membership.
The union’s bargaining team is heartened and motivated by the support that an 87% ‘YES’ result represents. The outcome of this vote illustrates a real commitment to the needs identified by the membership, including paid pedagogical and anti-oppression TA training, strengthened graduate guarantees, equitable wages between undergraduate and graduate TAs, better representation for Indigenous members, an increase to the minimum number of hours on a contract, and protection against tuition increases. Having heard the collective voice of our membership, the union is empowered to bargain a fair Collective Agreement for a #BetterMac and deliver real gains to TAs and RAs in lieu.
The results of this vote do not mean that a strike is forthcoming, but do empower the bargaining team to call a strike should negotiations not provide meaningful gains to members. The next step in the bargaining process is conciliation, in which a provincially appointed conciliation officer will meet with the parties.
Local 3906 will put the support of its members into action at the bargaining table and are committed to membership engagement throughout the process. Keep an eye out for our updates and additional bargaining support initiatives.
CUPE Local 3906 (Unit 1) represents approximately 2700 teaching assistants and research assistants (in lieu) at McMaster University.
- SEPTEMBER 24: Thode Library & MUSC 1st floor entrance
- SEPTEMBER 25: Thode Library & MUSC 1st floor entrance
- SEPTEMBER 26: Mills Library & MUSC 1st floor entrance
For more information, please see the attached infographic or visit our Strike Vote FAQ.
In solidarity,
Postdoc Social- Friday at 4
General Membership Meeting- Monday September 16th
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