The Postdoctoral Support Fund is a fund secured by your Union in collective bargaining. The fund provides postdoctoral fellows with access to up to $750 to cover expenses for various circumstances. Previously the fund provided support for one-time, unanticipated emergencies. After making gains in recent rounds of collective bargaining, we’re happy to announce that under the terms of the new collective agreement, the fund can also provide support for childcare subsidy, extended UHIP for employee and/or dependents, and moving/relocation expenses.
Unit 3 members are eligible to apply to the Postdoctoral Fellow Support Fund to address areas of financial need. The fund is currently limited to a maximum of $750 a person, and is administered through the School of Graduate Studies. CUPE 3906 has secured a representative on the adjudication committee to advocate for our members who apply.
The fund has historically been a total sum of $20,000 per year. Effective September 1, 2023, the fund increases to $70,000 per year and will increase to $80,000 per year in 2024. This was another change we secured in our most recent round of collective bargaining.
More specific details about the eligibility, process and requirements to apply for this fund is laid out in the documents found at the link below (though it does require updating and we are working on that with the School of Graduate Studies).
For more information about the fund application process and for a link to the application form, please visit:
https://gs.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2020/01/postdoctoral_support_fund_2017.pdf