As you may have heard today, CUPE 3903, the union representing contract faculty, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, and part-time librarians and archivists, have voted to go on strike effective Monday, February 26th at 12:01am. There will be a rally on Monday (no pickets), and picket lines will begin on Tuesday, February 27th from 7:30 am – 3:30pm
For childcare drop off and pick up, please try to enter the campus at Sentinel and Pond road OR Keele and pond road, and show picketers your picket pass. Let them know you are a childcare worker or doing childcare drop off and you will be let through quickly.
Please have patience with us the first week (and always 🙂 ) as we sort out the logistics. A best laid plan always has some problems once implemented!
Childcare is incredibly important to us at CUPE 3903. Did you know that not only does CUPE 3903 provide subsidy to its members for childcare here at Lee Wiggins, but it also provides a separate pool of money to help fund the Centre’s operations? This annual $50,000 contribution was won through previous negotiations and maintained/increased through CUPE 3903 strikes! We will do our best to to minimize the impact of the strike on childcare workers and families here on campus.
Here are some FAQ:
Who is CUPE 3903 and who will be on strike?
CUPE 3903 is one of the unions on campus; it represents four groups of workers: Unit 1 (Teaching Assistants), Unit 2 (Contract Faculty), Unit 3 (Graduate/Research Assistants), and Unit 4 (part-time librarians and archivists). Units 1, 2, and 3 have voted to go on strike.
How does this affect drop off and pick up?
CUPE 3903 will hold picket lines from 7:30 am – 3:30pm. This will cause some delay in entering the campus for childcare drop-off and pick-up (unless pick up occurs after 3:30pm). Parents and childcare workers are encouraged to use their picket pass (either a physical copy or digital copy to show the picketers) to be expedited through the picket line.
Where should I enter campus?
Please enter campus using one of two picket lines: the Sentinel road / Pond road entrance or the Keele road and Pond road entrance. Picketers at these entrances will be advised to fast track folks with a picket pass through an expedited line.
How long will this last?
We’re not sure! As long as it takes to get a good contract. CUPE 3903 is committed to bargaining with the employer until the membership votes to ratify a new contract. Unfortunately, we cannot predict how long that will take, but we certainly would like it to be sooner rather than later!
Where can I get more information on the strike?
You can find more information and regular updates on the strike on the CUPE 3903 website at https://3903.cupe.ca/ . Additionally, you can scan the QR code on the Picket Pass for our “Strike Information” page that will be continuously updated.