CUPE 3906

Here is a detailed update after the first two meetings with the University’s negotiating team last week. As you will see, the two sides have found some agreement on a number of smaller, procedural (or “housekeeping”) issues but remain far apart with respect to the priorities that our members have identified.

We are in a recess right now and will be back at the table by mid-August.

In the meantime, we’d like to hear from you! Please take a moment to check you e-mail and fill out our first of several Quick Bargaining Surveys. These surveys will be just a few questions long and will help to clarify where our members stand on various employment issues.

To encourage good participation in this endeavor, we’re offering a bit of an incentive: $20-, $30- and $50-valued prizes for 3 lucky respondents!

In solidarity for a #BetterMac
Graham Baker, President, CUPE 3906
on behalf of the Unit 2 Bargaining Team

This is it! Bargaining began this week! Your duly-elected Bargaining Team has been working hard over the last several weeks to put together a package of proposals that reflects your priorities as a membership. On Wednesday and Thursday of this past week, we had our first chance to present those proposals in person to the university’s negotiators.

You’re going to continue to hear from us – in person, via email, and through our direct mailers – as this process unfolds. If we’re going to win the Collective Agreement that Sessional Faculty at this university deserve, we all need to be pulling together, and that begins with making sure that all our members have up-to-date, accurate information about what’s going on at the bargaining table.

This is it! Unit 2 bargaining began yesterday and continues today! Your duly-elected Bargaining Team has been working hard over the last several weeks to put together a package of proposals that reflects your priorities as a membership. This morning, we’ll have our first chance to present those proposals in person to the university’s negotiators.

You’re going to continue to hear from us – in person, via email, and through our direct mailers – as this process unfolds. If we’re going to win the Collective Agreement that Sessional Faculty at this university deserve, we all need to be pulling together, and that begins with making sure that all our members have up-to-date, accurate information about what’s going on at the bargaining table.

We would first like to thank the Sessional Faculty who attended the Unit 2 Bargaining Support Luncheon yesterday – it was a chance to discuss the role of Bargaining Support as presented by the President, Graham Baker, and to meet the Bargaining Team, including the two Staff Reps, who graciously took time away from their busy bargaining schedule and joined us for lunch.

We now have a Bargaining Support Team (and are still looking for others to join as things progress), and we would like to congratulate Frances Lasowski for being acclaimed the Bargaining Support Chair – Thank you Fran and congratulations!

Once again, a big THANK YOU! to the new members of the Bargaining Support Team for their commitment to this round of negotiations with the employer.

If you’re interested in joining the bargaining support team (with a time commitment that is flexible to your schedule and responsibilities that you’re comfortable with), don’t hesitate to contact our Unit 2 Bargaining Mobilizer, Amarjeet.

The Union’s most significant decisions are made by Union members at General Membership Meetings (GMMs).   All CUPE 3906 members of all 3 units (TAs and RAs in lieu, Sessional Faculty, Hourly Rated Sessional Music Faculty and Postdoctoral Fellows) can attend regular GMMs and get involved in the Union’s decision making processes.

Our next GMM will be held on Monday, July 17th at noon in Kenneth Taylor Hall (KTH) B104

Agenda items will include: election of delegates to CUPE National Convention and OFL Convention, updates on Unit 2 Bargaining, notice of motion for union dues adjustment for Unit 3.

As usual, there will be free lunch and childcare costs to attend the meeting can be reimbursed.  If you have any additional question, don’t hesitate to e-mail staff@cupe3906.org

In solidarity, Graham Baker- President

Dear Unit 2 (Sessional Faculty and Hourly Rated Sessional Music Faculty),

We would like to extend an invitation to you for a Special (Free) Union Luncheon on Tuesday, July 11th at Noon at the Phoenix so as to set up the Bargaining Support Committee for this round of Unit 2 negotiations. At this luncheon meeting, two co-chairs of the Bargaining Support Committee will be elected as per our By-Laws.

We are addressing this invitation to all our Unit 2 members, including those members who were at the Special General Membership Meeting (SGMM) and those of you with whom we have met in person over the past weeks who have indicated an interest in chatting about the possibility of being a member of the Bargaining Support Committee. The Bargaining Support Committee is an integral and fundamental part of the Union’s Bargaining Process and, among other things, provides support as needed to the Bargaining Team.

    So please join us (even if you’re not sure if you want to commit to joining the committee) and please do RSVP to Toni Xerri, our member mobilizer at tjx@cupe3906.org by the end of the week so we can reserve enough room. Looking forward to meeting you!

Just a final reminder that our June General Membership Meeting is happening today at 1 p.m. in KTH B104.  The agenda will include a motion to make a donation to the Workers’ Arts and Heritage Centre, a motion to send members to the Coalition of Graduate Student Employee Unions, and the election of an undergraduate officer.

At noon, our sessionals will be meeting, also in KTH B104, to ratify our bargaining proposals for this round of collective bargaining.

The Union’s most significant decisions are made by Union members at General Membership Meetings (GMMs).

All CUPE 3906 members of all 3 units (TAs and RAs in lieu, Sessional Faculty, Hourly Rated Sessional Music Faculty and Postdoctoral Fellows) can attend regular GMMs and get involved in the Union’s decision making processes.

Our next GMM will be held on Tuesday, June 20th at 1:00PM in Kenneth Taylor Hall (KTH) B104

Agenda items will include: report-backs from conference delegates and an update on Unit 2 Bargaining; as well as the following elections:

We continue to canvass the membership for volunteers to get involved with Bargaining Support in anticipation of negotiations toward a new Collective Agreement for Unit 2 members, which have officially begun as of May 4th.

As usual, there will be free lunch and childcare costs to attend the meeting can be reimbursed. Have Questions? E-mail: Staff@cupe3906.org

In solidarity, Graham Baker, President

We’re hiring a temporary administrative coordinator position to cover a leave of absence for a staff member who is working with CUPE National.

This part-time position is scheduled for five months, beginning on July 15th and ending on December 15th. The posting can be found here.

Please apply, and direct any questions, to VP Sarah Wahab.