Our new Postdoctoral Fellow (Unit 3) Health Care Spending Account is now available to Unit 3 members.
Please visit https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/post-doc-health-spending-account/ for more information and for a link to the claim form.
Office Access- Oct 1 to Oct 5
Our office *may* be closed intermittently this week due to staff and some leadership attending the CUPE National convention. Our administrator is in, but may have to step out from time to time. If it’s important, please call in advance.
And while you’re reading this, be sure to check out one of our #BetterMac videos in support of Unit 2 bargaining.
Get on the FREE bus to Take Back the Night!
Dear Members,
Stand up for women’s and gender non-binary rights! March with the Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area, McMaster, UNIFOR 5555 and our CUPE 3906 Equity Action Committee in the annual Take Back the Night march: http://sacha.ca/events/take-back-the-night
There is a free bus leaving from McMaster at 5:30 P.M. For more information, click here!
General Membership Meeting- September 26th at 5:00 p.m.
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 next week on Tuesday, September 26th at 5:00PM in Burke Science Building (BSB) 105.
Agenda items will include: approval of the 2017-18 budget; approval of funds for Unit 3 informational materials; updates on Unit 2 Bargaining; as well as the following elections:
- Unit 2 Bargaining Team Note-taker
- Unit 2 Chief Steward
- Delegates to the Hamilton and District Labour Council
As usual, there will be a free dinner and childcare costs to attend the meeting can be reimbursed.
Have questions? Email staff@cupe3906.org
Bargaining Update- #BetterMac Campaign
As you make your way around campus, you’re likely to see our #BetterMac campaign, designed to secure meaningful increases though collective bargaining for Sessional Faculty, including job security, improved benefits, and fair wages. We’re expecting to be back at the bargaining table with the Employer in early October.
In the meantime, hear why these issues matter to two of your colleagues in our two short #BetterMac videos, featuring Jessica Foran from the Social Sciences Faculty and David Gerry from the School of the Arts. Click on the links!
If you’re interested in participating more in the #BetterMac campaign or you’d like to share your story as Jessica and David have, please contact Amarjeet at akc@cupe3906.org
Alternatively, if you’d like a poster for your office door, please swing by KTH B111, or let us know where your office is and we’ll deliver it.
Finally, while we hope that increased benefits are entitlements are available soon after we secure a new collective agreement, your currents benefits and entitlements can be found on our website.
Have questions? Email staff@cupe3906.org
In solidarity for a #BetterMac for Sessional Faculty,
Graham Baker, President, CUPE 3906
#BetterMac Profile- Dr. David Gerry
Meet Dr. David Gerry, a Sessional in School of the Arts.
He’s taught at McMaster University for about 30 years, has acquired a few advanced degrees in that time (including a PhD), been recognized by the Grammys (yes, you read that correctly), won a McMaster Students Union (MSU) teaching award, but has “no more job security now than when I began.” It’s time for a #BetterMac
Have a look at this video to hear from David what a #BetterMac means to him and why creating one is important.
Welcome (Back)- 2017-18
Welcome back to the thousands of amazing 3906 members who are back for another year, and a hearty welcome to the hundreds of new 3906 members joining our union. Our week began with the Annual Labour Day Parade in Hamilton. What a time!
We’re pleased to have negotiated wage increases for Unit 1 (TAs/RAs in lieu) and for Unit 3 (Post-Docs) that became effective as of September 1st. We also have an updated dental plan for unit 1 members, a new Health Care Spending Account for Post-Docs, and an expanded Professional Development Fund for Post-Docs. Information on these gains will be sent separately. Additional gains for Unit 2 members (Sessionals) will be announced at the conclusion of the bargaining process.
It was great meeting with thousands of you over the past week. Our first General Membership Meeting (or GMM) of the year will take place in late September. Stay tuned for details.
All-in-all, it was a busy week and we look forward to continuing to serve needs of our roughly 3000 members over the 2017-18 academic year.
Our First #BetterMac Video Now Online
You’ve probably already seen our #BetterMac campaign, designed to secure meaningful increases though collective bargaining for Sessional Faculty, including job security, improved benefits, and fair wages. Hear why these issues matter to Sessional Faculty, in our first #BetterMac video, featuring Jessica Foran, a sessional in Social Sciences.
Unit 2 Sessional Faculty Pledge
Over on our bargaining specific site (bettermac.ca) we have a pledge that we’re asking all Unit 2 (sessionals) to sign. It asks to you urge the administration to stabilize your employment conditions by significantly improving job security through strengthening First Consideration rights, and to recognize the value of your work and bargain in good faith on your wages and to make your benefits sustainable and affordable for members.
We value your support, and the only way to an improved collective agreement is through an engaged and supportive membership!
2017-18 Dental Opt-Out
As you may have heard, the opt-out date for the Unit 1 (TA/RA in lieu) dental plan is September 30th, 2017. New opt-out forms for the 2017-18 year will be available shortly. We appreciate the patience and will post these to our website and message members as soon as the new forms are made available by our dental provider.