CUPE 3906

Dear Postdoctoral Fellow (Unit 3) Members,

The Silhouette (campus newspaper at McMasterU) sat down with President Sarah Wahab and Vice President Graham Baker to explore the #BetterMac campaign. It means job security, mental health support, and so much more. The full story is here.

An important excerpt:

Sarah Wahab, president of CUPE 3906, clarified the conflation between mental illness and financial pressure. “It’s precarious work… Poverty can definitely amplify mental illness. So we think it is very important they have access to [mental health care]… So that’s something that was specifically mentioned in the survey: mental health care. #bettermac is trying to make a space that we already care deeply about, better. We love McMaster– we want to make it a better space for everyone to work.”

We wanted to inform students of this important policy: Rights and Responsibilities of Undergraduate Students During Work Stoppages That Substantially Disrupt Academic Activities

Our next General Membership Meeting (GMM) will occur today in JHE 264 at 5 p.m.

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.

We hope to see you there.

Dear Unit 1 Members,

RE: Important Bargaining Update

We have met with the Employer on several occasions in the past week to continue to re-negotiate the Unit 1 collective agreement, the contract that governs our collective working conditions as TAs and RAs in lieu at McMaster. 

The Employer has tabled a settlement offer that still contains what we view as major concessions and conflicts with the many concerns you expressed in our bargaining priorities document and bargaining survey.   

We are requesting additional dates from the Employer to meet at the bargaining table in the next few weeks to continue to work towards the priorities you set out and to attain a #BetterMac.  We will provide more updates as they arise. 

In solidarity,

Your Elected Unit 1 Bargaining Team

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/