Bargaining Update

Brad WalchukBargaining, News, Unit 2

Bargaining update – McMaster and CUPE 3906 agree to pause talks

The University and representatives of CUPE 3906, Unit 2 (“the Union”) have been meeting to negotiate a renewed collective agreement. The Union represents approximately 380 Sessional Faculty and Sessional Music Faculty at McMaster.

Both parties report making progress towards a renewed agreement and that the talks have been constructive and positive.

The University and the Union have agreed to pause the talks over the summer, due to scheduling issues. During this pause, the University and Union will continue to operate under the terms of the former collective agreement. The parties have also agreed they will not file for conciliation during the adjournment.

Both parties will resume their meetings the week of September 16.

Great Video on CUPE’s University Workers

Brad WalchukNews

The following video was shown at the recent CUPE Ontario Annual Convention.  It highlights the amazing work of the Ontario University Workers Coordinating Committee (OUWCC). CUPE Local 3906 is a proud member of the OUWCC and actively supports its wonderful initiatives.

Design Competition – $200 Prize for The Winners (**Deadline Extended**)

Communication OfficerCommunications, General, News

CUPE 3906 is pleased to announce our local’s design competition. The aim of this competition will be to design a new header for our bulletin boards that are across campus. This design can be the basis of our local’s visual identity. All CUPE 3906 members who are interested in graphic design are highly encouraged to submit their designs for this competition.

Prizes: The 1st place design will receive a $150 cash prize.

The second place and third place designs will receive $25 gift cards for titles bookstore.

Submission Deadline: June 30th July 14th (deadline has been extended for another two weeks).

Read More

International Member Get-Together

Brad WalchukEvents, International

Hello fellow international CUPE members,
Did you have a hectic winter term? It’s time to get together, relax and enjoy some good company over dinner!
More details:
You are invited to a FREE dinner hosted by CUPE 3906 on the 9th of May (Thursday) at 6pm in the Phoenix.
Why?
Food and Fun! Board games! Make some new friends! Share your experiences and laughter! Learn how CUPE 3906 can help you!
How do I sign up?
Please join the Facebook event (link below) so that we can make sure that there is enough food for everyone! If you don’t have a Facebook account, you can email Venu, our international office, (international@cupe3906.org).
https://www.facebook.com/events/151789548326691/
It will be fun and hope you can make it!
See you there! Venu (International Officer, CUPE 3906)
If you have any questions, feel free to email: international@cupe3906.org

Job Posting: Part Time Adminstrative Assistant

Brad WalchukGeneral

Hi All,

CUPE 3906 is hiring a Part Time Administrative Assistant.

The administrative assistant will work with the executive committee. Their primary role will be the
administration and processing of benefits. This includes processing claims, answering member inquires, and
prepare annual reports on benefits. S/he will also be responsible for Job Postings administration, including
checking over all postings that come in from the University to ensure they are in line with the Collective
Agreement, and posting them to the website. S/he will also be partly responsible with the Staff supervisors
for ensuring the day to day functioning of the 3906 office.

For more details please the attached job posting CUPE 3906 Admin Assistant .

 

TA/RA Awards Winners Announced

Cheif Steward Unit 1General

Thank you to all who participated in the 2013 TA/RA Awards! We received close to 150 nominations for TAs and RAs whose appreciable work received the acclaim of students, fellow TAs and professors. After careful consideration by the TA/RA Awards Committee, the winners were determined and declared at the GMM on April 30, 2013. Here are the five winners of the CUPE 3609 TA/RA awards for 2013:

    • Engineering: Alizera Akbari
    • Health Sciences: Ankush Chander
    • Humanities: Joseph Frank
    • Science: Jessica Vanderploeg
    • Social Science: Douglas Wong

Congratulations to the winners! If you know of a TA/RA who deserves recognition, be sure to keep them in mind for next year’s TA/RA Awards.

Bargaining E-Bulletin #1

Brad WalchukBargaining, General, Unit 2

Bargaining Update

The Union and the Employer have met on a number of occasions, and more dates are scheduled for May.

What We Have Proposed

Based on the membership survey that you filled out in late 2012 and early 2013, the union has five main bargaining priorities:

– Increased Job Security (in the form of expanded First Consideration Appointments)

– Wage Increases and Lump Sum Payments

– An Expansion to Benefits (the creation of a separate Dental Plan and a separate Child Care Plan, and increases to the Professional Development Fund)

– Term (a 3 year collective agreement)

– Increased TA support to relieve workload

What the Employer Has Proposed

– Failed to respond to expanded First Consideration Appointments

– Proposed wage increases of 0% in the first two years

– Refused to create a stand-alone child-care plan or dental plan, or to increase the Professional Development Fund

– Proposed a 5 year collective agreements

– Failed to agree to TA support increases

What is Next?

– Your elected bargaining team continues to work hard on securing important gains for you.

– We have scheduled meetings with the Employer on May 6, 8 and 15.

What You Can Do

Join the Bargaining Support Committee!!!

Questions??? Send an e-mail: staff@cupe3906.org

in soli? part II: A panel, discussion, and social event about the tensions of being “in solidarity”

Brad WalchukGeneral

in soli? part II: A panel, discussion, and social event about the tensions of being “in solidarity”

When: Wednesday, May 8th, 7-9pm (Doors at 6:30)
Where: Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St. (at James N. and Colbourne)
Cost: Free!

The Political Action Committee of CUPE 3906 warmly invites you to a panel and discussion to explore various tensions we face when claiming to be ‘in solidarity’ with others. As a key catch-phrase for activists within and beyond organized labour, ‘in solidarity’ is often taken as a self-evident and non-contentious statement. However, many also recognized the need to challenge these presumptions about being ‘in solidarity’ and to critically interrogate this phrase and what it means practically for the work we can (and cannot) do. In order to prompt more of these discussions we have organized this panel to follow up on the panel ‘In Soli?’ hosted in February 2012, this time looking more specifically at the tensions in and between different ways of being ‘in solidarity’. Our panel will include four speakers whose activism spans a variety of forms and concerns (from decolonizing ecology and indigenous sovereignty to wage-theft, precarious and sex-worker struggles and anti-gentrification) speaking to the question:What kinds of challenges or tensions have you faced being ‘in solidarity’ and what kinds of practical strategies have you used to negotiate these? The panel presentations will be followed by an open, facilitated discussion.

Admission is free. Light snacks provided, cash bar. Bus tickets available.

Please note that this space is not accessible. We apologize for this, and welcome any feedback or suggestions.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/178373372318839/

For more information: politicalaction@cupe3906.org

Communications Distruptions Notice

Communication OfficerGeneral, News

Dear Members,

Please note that there may be disruptions to our communications and services (including telephone extensions, office hours and mail/forms collection) during our moving dates (April 24th and 25th).

We apologize for any inconvenience.

We hope to see you in our new office, KTH B111.

Best,
Mary Ellen Campbell
Office Relocation Manager