Get involved in Strike Preparation Week!

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Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers assemble placards at their union local headquarters in advance of a strike.

Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers assemble placards at their union office during a strike.

Members and allies of CUPE 3903 are invited to join Strike Preparation Week, a full seven days of organizing and activism in advance of a possible strike on March 3. The purpose of Strike Preparation Week is to make sure that, in the event that the Employer fails to achieve a negotiated settlement with the union, our members are prepared to conduct an effective and well organized strike.

Our goal is to avoid a strike, but we still must prepare for one. Please join us for one or all of the events below, and help the union win a fair deal for our members.

Calendar of events

Stop by the CUPE 3903 office, 143 Atkinson Building, and pick up some posters to distribute in your department for Strike Preparation Week and for the “final offer” Special General Membership Meeting.

More posters and leaflets will be printed each day of the week. If you don’t have time to poster on Monday, drop by any other day of the week.

Join and share on Facebook.

This is the third in a series of strike training meetings for members of CUPE 3903. More meetings will be scheduled as needed.

Members are strongly encouraged to attend at least one strike training meeting. Each meeting will cover the basics of conducting a strike, including strategy and tactics, logistics, mapping the workplace, picket duty, alternative picket duty, and other ways that members can support and participate in the strike.

If you plan on attending, please RSVP by email to sectreasurer3903@gmail.com.

Food and light refreshments will be provided.

Join and share on Facebook.

Join members and allies of CUPE 3903 as the union presents a donation of $1,000 to the York Federation of Students’ Food Bank. As part of its challenge, CUPE 3903 will invite each of the top five earners in the York administration to meet or beat the union’s donation.

For more information, please email CUPE3903csu1@gmail.com.

  • Thursday, February 26
    Get on the solidarity bus!
    Support education workers at York and U of T
    Send-off rally in front of Vari Hall: 1:30 p.m.
    Bus departs Vari Hall: 2:00 p.m.
    Bus arrives at U of T: 3:00 p.m.

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CUPE 3903 is organizing a solidarity bus to transport members and allies to a solidarity rally for education workers organized by CUPE 3902, our sister local at the University of Toronto. CUPE 3902 will be in a legal strike position on February 27, just days before our local’s strike deadline.

Please help us bring a large contingent of members and allies from York to the U of T rally, and build unity among education workers throughout the sector.

To book a free seat on the bus, please email CUPE3903strikecommittee@gmail.com. All York students, including undergraduates, are welcome to join us.

Bus transportation to the U of T rally is one-way and will not return passengers to York.

All York students, staff and community members are invited to visit our strike headquarters during this grand opening and day-long open house. We will provide free food and refreshments for all guests. Music and entertainment will also be provided.

The location of the headquarters will be announced in the coming days, so stay tuned for updates.

For more information, please email sectreasurer3903@gmail.com.

  • Saturday, February 28 & Sunday, March 1
    Membership phone-through
    10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    CUPE 3903 office
    143 Atkinson Building
    – or –
    From your home

Be part of a marathon phone-through of our entire membership, to remind members about the “final offer” Special General Membership Meeting on Monday, March 2 at 5:00 p.m., and to provide the latest bargaining updates.

To volunteer for the phone-through, please email CUPE3903chiefstewardunit2@gmail.com.

Join and share on Facebook.

At this meeting, the Bargaining Team will present the final offer from the Employer. After a period of discussion, members will vote by secret ballot on whether to accept the offer.

Food and refreshments will be provided. For a childcare / elder care subsidy, please email sectreasurer3903@gmail.com.

A tentative agenda will be posted online shortly.

Please contact Sheila Wilmot at CUPE3903.equity.officer@gmail.com or at 416-736-5154 ext. 3 if you require any of the following: ASL interpretation, reimbursement for childcare/caregiver/attendant care, and/or transportation costs for members who are unable to secure Wheel-Trans, or other requests for accommodation.