The Bargaining Team (BT) for Units 1, 2, and 3 met for the seventh time on Tuesday June 13.

AGENDA ITEMS:

1. Quorum Rules
2. Report back from BT/Exec meeting; a round of report backs
3. Approval Procedure for Bargaining Team Proposals
4. Vote on the staff proposals we want to include.
5. The Steward’s Council approved an event on Monday June 26 at the Fox and the Fiddle at St. George and Bloor at 7:30pm. The theme was a bargaining social.
6. Communications Committee Liaison

Bargaining Proposals and Procedures

Background

During this week’s BT meeting, quorum rules were established, and the main points from our last joint BT and Executive meeting were discussed to get all members up to date. Members also discussed autonomous and collective voting, working towards a consensus based approach, alongside staff proposals and upcoming social events. All members unanimously appointed Murray Cooke, as the communications Committee Liaison.

The meeting was composed of 7 representatives from the union’s BT.

Continue reading →

CUPE 3903 entered bargaining on June 1, which means that we will need to mobilize, campaign, and organize for the best possible deal. This means that we need to communicate to our colleagues, students, and broader community why good contracts make for a better university.

The communications committee would love to hear from you: what slogans or hashtags best reflect your bargaining priorities? Let us know through the form below!

On June 1, 2017, CUPE 3903 submitted the official Notice to Bargain to York University. The collective agreements for Unit 1 (teaching assistants), Unit 2 (contract faculty) and Unit 3 (graduate assistants) all expire on August 31, 2017.

You can view the Notice to Bargain here: CUPE 3903 Notice to Bargain 2017

CUPE 3903 signed new collective agreements following a month-long strike in March 2015. Labour unionism relies on the principle that agreements are respected in between bargaining rounds. However, in the time since March 2015, York University has continuously disregarded our agreements: the violation of brand new tuition indexation language for international graduate students, widespread payment failures over the summer of 2015, the elimination of almost 700 jobs in Unit 3, delaying the provision of information mandated through the Unit 2 collective agreement, and leaving Unit 1 members without a paycheque in the summer are only some of the most egregious violations. Bargaining new collective agreements is where we show our collective power and hold the employer to account.

The membership as a whole must weigh in as the bargaining team crafts bargaining proposals. If you haven’t yet, please fill out the bargaining survey. Also, mark your calendars for the June 27 General Membership Meeting, where we will be approving the first set of bargaining proposals. The membership’s political, collective power is the source of any power at the bargaining table.

During the May 30 General Membership Meeting, a decision was made to create a Members-Only Area Working Group. Creating a members-only area for our website, on which sensitive documents could be stored for easier access by the membership, is a project that many members feel very strongly about. So get involved! If you would like to participate, email Kyle at cupe3903go@gmail.com.

Members are invited to join this working group to prepare a proposal, which would be presented to the membership. Some issues that members of this working group might consider include:

• Feasibility and cost
• Different options for login/registration
• Security
• Protocols for the sharing of documents
• Other issues deemed relevant by the Working Group

CUPE 3903 General Membership Meeting
Date: May 30, 2017
Location: Harry Crowe, 109 Atkinson
1pm-4pm

Join and share the event on Facebook here!

Tentative Agenda:

1. Role Call of Officers
2. Reading of the Equality Statement
3. Reading of the Mississauga Land Acknowledgement
4. Approval of Agenda
5. Approval of May 2 GMM Minutes
6. Treasurer’s Report
7. Bargaining Team Report
   1. Bargaining Parameters
8. Notices of Motion
   1. Proposed bylaw amendment to Article 10: Committees
9. Nominations, Elections, Acclamations
   1. Acclamations
      1. Accessibility Committee – Jacqueline Ristola, Shila Khayambashi
      2. CUPE Toronto District Council – Jacqueline Ristola
      3. Toronto York Region Labour Council – Jacqueline Ristola
   2. Vacancies
      1. Election Committee – 2
      2. Bilingualism Committee – 2
      3. CUPE Toronto District Council – 1
      4. Employment Equity Committee – 1
      5. Health and Safety Committee – 1
      6. Labour Management Committee – Unit 3, Unit 4
      7. Toronto York Region Labour Council – 7
      8. Unit 2 Listserv Moderators – 1
10. Matters Arising
    1. Donation to The Women’s Coordinating Committee for a Free Wallmapu (Toronto), for 5th Toronto Mapuche Solidarity Film Festival ($3,100)
    2. Donation to TRACX, covering expenses for annual symposium budget ($675)
    1. Donation to Toronto Against Fascism ($1,000)
    2. Donation to Latin American Caribbean Solidarity Network ($500)
    3. Donation to Black Lives Matter Freedom School ($3,000)
    4. Proposed bylaw amendment to Article 17.2(f): Election of Negotiating Teams
    5. Request to Increase Communications Budget Line ($5,000)
11. Executive Reports
12. Adjournment

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.

The Bargaining Team (BT) for Units 1, 2, and 3 met for the fifth time on Tuesday May 16.

Agenda
1) Joint Health and Safety Committee Discussion of Bargaining Proposals and Priorities
2) Update from 3903 Executive on Unfair Labour Practice
3) Upcoming Meetings

Joint Health and Safety Committee Discussion of Bargaining Proposals and Priorities

Background

The joint health and safety committee is a joint committee with the employer responsible for ensuring the safety of our workplaces across both the Glendon and Keele campuses. It composed of 6 representatives from the union and representatives from the employer. Each union has its own health and safety representatives that meet regularly with the employer to do inspections and discuss safety concerns.

Continue reading →

The deadline to apply for the CUPE 3903 Childcare Fund is May 31. If you have already applied (and received money) in the fall or Winter term then you do not need to apply again.

The Childcare Fund is for all 3903 members who incur costs related to the care of children under the age of 13 (or 18 if the child has additional needs). The committee has heard from several members who thought they were not eligible because their child is not in daycare so we want to be clear that this fund is to help cover ANY cost related to children, not just childcare!

You can find the application form here (or as a Word document from the Childcare Fund page) or in the union office (143 Atkinson). The application does need to be mailed or dropped off to the union office as we do not accept applications by email. You will need to provide proof of parental responsibilities by providing documentation such as, but not exclusive to, copies of birth certificates or guardianship papers. Please note that you also need to provide you social insurance number and date of birth. For children with disabilities/additional needs a letter from a medical care provider shall be submitted.

If you have any questions email 3903childcare@gmail.com.

Conversion into full-time faculty positions and Long Service Teaching Appointments (LSTAs) are available to Unit 2 (contract faculty) members as per the collective agreement. There are 8 conversions (4 Professorial Stream and 4 Alternate Stream) and 7 LSTAs this year.

We would like to congratulate the members who have received these appointments:

Continue reading →

Committee members ensure the disbursement of funds, liaise with other locals in the labour movement and community, help with our communications, and enact important projects for our union. In sum, they are the backbone of any functioning union! If you would like to get involved, sitting on a committee (or two!) is a great way to contribute to your local. Every committee position includes an honorarium.

Committee positions that are currently vacant are listed below. The nomination period is open until May 29, 5 pm. To nominate yourself, email Julian at cupe3903vpu2@gmail.com.

Continue reading →

At the May 2 General Membership Meeting, a new working group was created, the Anti-Racism Workshop and Training Working Group. This group comes as a result of a motion passed at the January GMM, establishing the need for monthly anti-racism training and workshops.

This working group will be formulating what the needs of the local are in terms of anti-racism training. Working groups are, according to our bylaws, open to all members. However, Indigenous and racialized voices will be prioritized in this space.

To get involved, contact a Vice-President.