In order to protect some of our most vulnerable members, CUPE 3903 is currently asking for information from members – past and present – on their experience with successful Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) petitions for program extensions.
Program extensions for members who carry out Executive Committee or Bargaining Team service, and/or for members with disabilities, have been an important part of our collective agreements (CA). Not all members have been getting the same funding supports for the extensions though.
The Union is collecting data for a case that would protect priority pool funding for doctoral candidate members who get approved FGS petition extensions, under either or both articles 15.09 or 15.10 of the Unit 1 CA. That is, on grounds of 12 months of service on the Executive Committee and/or Bargaining Team, and/or 12 to 24 months on the basis of disability.
If you have received one or more of these extensions at any point, please contact the Union’s Equity Officer, advising her of the year, if you got a TA (or equivalent), and if you were given funding for the summer prior to the extended year(s). No discussion of the content of your petition is required – just that it was approved and what funding you got, if any.
Our Equity Officer can be reached via email at: CUPE3903.equity.officer@gmail.com or via phone at 416-736-5154 ext. 3