CUPE Fall Social – Updated

Communication OfficerGeneral

Fall_Social_2014-page-001
Dear CUPE 3906 Members:

You are invited to our FALL SOCIAL!

WHEN: Friday, October 17th, 8:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M.

WHERE: Staircase Cafe Theatre, 27 Dundurn Street North

WHAT: Karaoke, Snacks, and Good Times!

*Free drink tickets for the first 75 people!*

We hope to see you there!

CUPE Fall Social Event Phtos

Grad Student TAs and RAs: Do you have questions about MOSAIC?

Mary Ellen CampbellGeneral

MOSAICIf you are a Graduate Student and Unit 1 Member (TA or RA in lieu of TA) and have questions about the new MOSAIC payroll system (including how it might affect the administration of your dental benefits), please visit http://cupe3906.org/dental2014 for more information!

UPDATE: JANUARY 19, 2015:

Check your Pay Advice on MOSAIC

Your union has received calls that there have been a few issues with the new MOSAIC payroll, predominantly that the amount of pay has not been correct.

Have you checked your e-paystub?  The new MOSAIC system promises to be a one-stop access point for members, but it’s important to recognize that it’s still in its early stages.  We are recommending that members take the time to check the pay stubs issued on paper from September and mid-October pay periods and compare them to the electronic pay stubs that replaced them.  Please let us know if you notice any significant changes in the disbursements after the MOSAIC system came into effect October 21st.  If so, please contact x 24003 or email staff@CUPE3906.org. We would encourage you to check your pay stub, referred to a “Pay Advice,” on a bi-weekly basis.

This can be done by logging into the new MOSAIC system: http://mosaic.mcmaster.ca

CUPE 3906 General Membership Meeting- October 6th

Brad WalchukGeneral

CUPE Local 3906 will be holding our first General Membership Meeting, or GMM, of the academic year on Monday, October 6th, at 5:00 in Life Sciences Building, room B130-E.  Free pizza and drinks will be served at 5:00, and the meeting will get under way at 5:30.  The GMM is the highest decision making body of the union, and is an important way to be involved in your union.  The main agenda item on Monday night will be the adoption of the a yearly budget.  It will allow you to see how the local is spending its money, and members will have the opportunity to  add, delete, amend, and ultimately vote on this budget.
The meeting agenda : GMM_2014_Oct-06 Agenda

Following this meeting, the local will be hosting an Employment Insurance (EI) information session for all members.  The session will help to wlak you through the ins and outs of applying for EI.

We hope to see you there!

Coalition of Graduate Employees Union

Brad WalchukGeneral

One of our stewards recently attended the 2014 Coalition of Graduate Employee Unions (CGEU) conference.  The CGEU (link to facebook page) brings together graduate student unions across North America to discuss common issues of concern and share strategies and best-practice when dealing with university administrators.

The conference attendees amended and adopted a Constitution (CGEU Constitution 2014-08-02) for their member unions, such as ours, to ratify.  Our executive has recommended we bring this to membership to vote on at our upcoming executive meeting on October 6th.

We think that this is a great opportunity for CUPE Local 3906 to become a founding member of the CGEU.

CUPE 3906 Supports Saving Door to Door Mail Delivery

Brad WalchukGeneral

This past Friday, a few of our executive members attended a Save Door to Door Mail Delivery rally in Toronto.  Here is a picture of our two Vice Presidents (Caroline and Evan) with CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn.  More information about why it is important to Save Canada Post can be found here.

3906 and Fred

 

 

2014 Mike Skinner Activist Award Winner- Brock Dubbels

Brad WalchukGeneral

CUPE Local 3906 is proud to announce the winner of our 2014 Mike Skinner Activist Award: Dr. Brock Dubbels.  Brock is a post-doctoral fellow (Unit 3 member) working in the Department of Computing and Software.

Brock won the award for his role in launching Hamilton’s first ever “CoderDojo”.  CoderDojo is a movement orientated around running free not-for-profit coding clubs and regular sessions for young people.  At a CoderDojo, young people learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs, games and more. Dojos are set up, run by and taught by volunteers, and also puts a strong emphasis on open source and free software.  For more information, click here.

The Mike Skinner Activist Award is presented annually to a CUPE 3906 member who plays an active role in improving the local community in a variety of ways, including fighting for social justice issues, environmental protection, and community organizing, education and/or solidarity.   It is named after Mike Skinner, a former business agent for CUPE 3906 and longtime social activist in the Hamilton community.

Congratulations Brock!!!!

2014 Labour Day Parade and Picnic

Communication OfficerCommunications, Events

Members and friends of CUPE 3906:

You are invited to join us on September 1st for a fun-filled and family-friendly parade and barbeque! This annual event is hosted by the Hamilton & District Labour Council and will take place rain or shine.

If you are interested in marching in the parade, please meet us at the corner of York Blvd and Pearl Street at 10am. Look for the black and white CUPE 3906 flags! The parade starts at 10:30 am sharp!

The picnic/barbeque will begin immediately following the parade (approximately 12pm). Please see the map for the location of our picnic area in Dundurn Park.

We will be providing FREE FOOD AND DRINKS to all who join us!

We hope you can join us on this day of celebration and solidarity!

Date : Sept 1, 2014
Parade : York Blvd and Pearl Street, Hamilton at 10:00 AM
Picnic/Barbeque : Dundurn Park (600 York Boulevard, Hamilton), at 12:00 PM

2014 Labour Day-Picnic_BBQ locations in Dundurn Park-page-001

Labor_Day_New_York_1882

GRAD STUDENT TAs and RAs (in LIEU): 6 Things you need to know…

Mary Ellen CampbellGeneral

Graduate Unit 1 (TA and RAs in lieu) members: CLICK HERE for six things you need to know about the upcoming payroll changes and your TA/RA (in lieu)!  

Did you know that the upcoming payroll changes will change how you receive your TA/RA (in lieu) pay and may change how you pay your dental coverage premiums?

Make sure to check out our “Six things you need to know…” flyer posted above, and visit the section of our website dedicated to TAs and the MOSAIC payroll changes: http://cupe3906.org/dental2014  The site has specific and useful information that could help you avoid unpleasant surprises (such as disruptions to your dental coverage) as the academic year progresses.

Also, don’t forget about the change of coverage deadlines (i.e., OPT OUT and FAMILY ENROLLMENT deadlines) for your dental benefits!  Forms must be in by September 8th, 2014, for your change of status to take effect retroactive to September 1st, 2014, or by September 30th, 2014 to have the changes take effect for October 1st, 2014.  For forms and information about OPTING OUT of or ENROLLING FAMILY MEMBERS into CUPE dental coverage, please CLICK HERE.

*NEW!* Click here for the School of Graduate Studies’ Payroll schedule for Graduate TAs and RAs (in lieu).

*NEW!Click here for the School of Graduate Studies’ Scholarship Payment schedule for Graduate Students.

And don’t forget to check out our new TA/RA (in lieu) Hours of Work Tracking form by clicking here!

Unit 1 (TA/RA in lieu) MOSAIC/Payroll Changes Update *IMPORTANT*

Mary Ellen CampbellGeneral

Dear Unit 1 Members,

Please see the latest correspondence from your President, Rebecca, regarding the impact of the upcoming MOSAIC payroll changes:

MOSAIC Letter JULY 28

*NEW* To determine how your dental premiums will be deducted from your earnings, please visit http://cupe3906.org/dental2014

*NEW* For the CUPE 3906 ADMINISTRATOR’S MOSAIC LUNCHEON presentation please visit http://cupe3906.org/dental2014

*NEW* Also, check out our new flyer here: Unit 1 Benefits Booklet Insert Sept 2014

Past correspondence and ongoing updates on this topic can also be viewed at http://cupe3906.org/dental2014

 

EAC Chocolate Day

Emma McKennaGeneral

What’s not to love about free chocolate bars in the middle of a work day? What bars? Snickers, Mars, Kit Kat and other popular ones20140728_113910

When: Wednesday August 6th, from 10 am-1 pm

Where: Your building of course! We know you will be working (or at least trying to work 😉 ) at that timeWe will start at 10 am and move from building to building. Please join the Facebook event to get real-time updates on when we will be at your buildinghttps://www.facebook.com/events/282950981878053/?notif_t=plan_user_joinedSee you all on Wednesday!Equity Action Committee, CUPE 3906