Our next General Membership Meeting (GMM) will occur on Tuesday Sept 20th at 5 pm in JHE 264. A bargaining update for unit 1 and 3 will be the main items on the agenda #BetterMac

We will also be presenting and voting on our 2016-17 operating budget.

The Unit 1 bargaining team met with the Employer on August 31 and September 1 for two full days of bargaining.  While the parties made considerable progress on some minor issues, the parties have yet to agree on many large issues that need to be addressed to make a #BetterMac, most notably the dental plan and 5th year PhD guarantees.

A full copy of our bargaining bulletin (the second that we have released) is here.  It contains the status quo language, the Union’s most recent proposal, and the Employer’s most recent response.

Our first bargaining bulletin from the end of July can be found here.

Welcome (back) to the over 2400 TAs/RAs in lieu who comprise Unit 1.  We’re looking to make a #BetterMac through collective bargaining.  That includes a functional and affordable dental plan that works, 5 years of guaranteed TA funding/work, fair wages, mental health support, and academic freedom.

Swing by our office in KTH B111 for some great #BetterMac swag.

Don’t be a Homer. If you’re planning to opt out of the CUPE plan, today is the deadline to avoid premium charges for September. Opt out forms due by 4 p.m.

Additional information available here: http://cupe3906.org/tas-unit-1/dental-plan/

Our sessionals might be interested in some of the following events:

NEW SESSIONAL NETWORKING ORIENTATION

Thursday, September 1, 2016 | 9:00am – 1:30pm

Registration (Free): https://2016nsno.eventbrite.ca

This half-day event welcomes new sessional instructors to McMaster’s campus and invites them to connect to campus resources to support their teaching, learning, and research. Meet the President and other senior leaders and faculty, and learn about McMaster’s institutional culture. Get to know the McMaster Institute for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (MIIETL) and other campus resources available to support your teaching, learning, and research.

Morning:

9:00am -12:00pm: Networking Orientation * Limited Seating available for AM* 

Location: Alumni Memorial Hall, Great Hall

Lunch:

12:15pm -1:30pm: Resource Fair

Location: MIIETL, Mills Library-L504

TEACHING & LEARNING FORUM

Thursday, September 8, 2016 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (Engineering, Health Sciences, Science)

Thursday, September 8, 2016 | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Business, Humanities, Social Science)

Registration (Free): https://2016tlf.eventbrite.ca

The Teaching and Learning Forum is the McMaster Institute for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning’s (MIIETL’s) teaching and learning event held each September for new and returning graduate students, teaching assistants (TAs), and sessional instructors.

EMERGING EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT DAY

Tuesday, October 11, 2016 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Burke Science Building (BSB) – Multiple Rooms

Registration (Free): https://2016eedd.eventbrite.ca

This half-day event invites participants to choose from 20 different workshops on a variety of teaching & learning topics such as Teaching and Research Supports from your Library, Active Learning, and Leveraging Technology in the classroom.

Congratulations to our newly elected officers: Hadi (bargaining team), Biran (undergraduate officer), Marguerite (Unit 1 chief steward), Sarah (president), and Holly (equity officer).

Not pictured is our new Vice President, Graham.

Thanks to all who attended our standing room only meeting this afternoon.

Your local is having it’s next General Membership Meeting on August 9th at noon in CNH 102.

The agenda will include an election of a new benefits officer, and a bargaining alternate,  as well as bargaining updates for both Unit 1 and 3.

We hope to see you there!