CUPE 3903 members holding picket signs in support of tuition indexation in March 2015.

On April 1, 2016, CUPE 3903 signed a settlement with the employer to preserve tuition indexation (now called tuition offset). This settlement was the result of eleven months of protest and negotiation, following the employer’s refusal to respect the brand new tuition offset language, which was the result of a one-month strike in March 2015. The new settlement language was recently put to the test, and proved to be solid. However, we must all remain vigilant to avoid continued erosion of graduate funding.

This long battle had one goal from the start: ensuring that our members’ income is not eroded through increases in tuition. In April, we believed we had finally come to an agreement. However, over the summer, York announced to international students at the Lassonde School of Engineering that they could expect to have their yearly tuition offset payment ($6709.62 for PhD students and $7,534.62 for Master’s students) counted against other sources of funding, such as RAships. This claw-back violates the Memorandum of Settlement agreed upon in April, which states that the offset must be “a dedicated amount of additional funding” that “shall not be offset by a decrease in any other monies otherwise payable to an employee”. Beyond legalities, this attempt to erode funding for international students, again, is reprehensible. While this $6000-$7000 makes a significant difference in our members’ lives, it is but a negligible part of York’s budget. These continued attempts show the employer’s disrespect for its workers and negotiations with CUPE 3903, which were arrived at in good faith on the union side.

The employer delayed for months after the clear violation of the agreement was discovered. The threat of returning to the arbitrator was necessary to get Barry Miller, Executive Director of Faculty Relations, to agree that “for these cohorts of students, they should receive no less than the minimum funding commitment set out in the funding letter provided at the time of their admission to their graduate program plus an amount equivalent to the value of the tuition offset”. This preserves the offset as additional funding to cover tuition increases.

This is good news, but we are not done yet. For one, the employer is delaying yet again on revealing when and how they will release these additional payments. This is despite the provision of a list of affected members within Lassonde on October 19. For another, reports of similar claw-backs in other faculties have begun to trickle in.

If you are an international student member paying higher tuition fees (i.e. cohorts from 2013 and above), please check the amount of funding you project to receive for this year. Any scholarship or RAships you have earned should not be decreased or combined with your tuition offset. Your total funding for the year should, at a minimum, be equal to the sum of your minimum funding guaranteed in your offer letter, salary increases (1.5% per year for 2014 to 2016), and the tuition offset.

If you believe your funding has been clawed back or you have any questions, contact cupe3903comms@gmail.com.

The activity of union committees, caucuses and working groups is essential to the success of CUPE 3903. Committee members help enforce and implement the gains that the local has made in past rounds of collective bargaining. Getting involved in a committee is a great way to contribute to the local and meet other members.

There are currently several committee vacancies. They will be elected at the November 25 GMM. In order to nominate yourself, please email Sara at cupe3903vpu1@gmail.com by 5 pm on Thursday, November 24. You may provide a short statement if you choose. Details for the open committee positions are below.

The Accessibility Committee (2 vacancies) was organized in 2005 to improve the Union’s work on accessibility issues at York University and to ensure that Union spaces and meetings are accessible. Four members are elected for a one-year term. Honorarium: $250 per year per member.

The Communications Committee (1 vacancy) is responsible for coordinating CUPE 3903 communications, including maintaining and updating the CUPE 3903 website, maintaining a social media presence, and taking on communications projects and campaigns. The Communications Committee meets at least once per month. Honorarium: $750 per year.

The Health and Safety Committee (1 vacancy) has six representatives. They act as advocates for members on all health and safety matters, investigate accidents and work stoppages involving our members, inspect the entire workplace annually, meet with management every two months to discuss all of the above, and make sure everything is followed up. Honorarium: there is no direct honorarium, although the employer sets aside money annually to pay committee members an hourly wage for work done, paid at the marker/grader rate.

The Labour-Management Committee  (1 vacancy UNIT 3 ONLY) consists of one representative from each Unit. This committee meets with management about once a month and is charged with facilitating the implementation and interpretation of the Collective Agreements. Honorarium:  $750 per position per year.

The Posting Officers (1 vacancy) review all job postings for conformity with the Collective Agreements (e.g., qualifications required and preferred by the employer, description of duties, pay rate). Where postings do not conform with the Collective Agreements, the Postings Officers discusses them with the Employer’s postings officer to attempt to remedy the situation. If discussion does not result in a prompt remedy, the Postings Officer initiates grievances through the Grievance Committee and/or Stewards’ Council. Honorarium: $2,500 per member per year.

The PDF Coordinator (1 vacancy) administers the Professional Development Fund (PDF) throughout the contract year in accordance with established guidelines, and is the primary contact person for members. One of the Coordinator’s tasks is to chair four meetings (September, January, March, and June). The purpose of each meeting is to adjudicate the distribution of PDF funds, the Teaching Development Fund, and the Tuition Costs Fund. The PDF Coordinator is also responsible for the actual disbursement of funds and for the general upkeep of the PDF account. The PDF Coordinator is also a member of the Center for the Support of Teaching (CST) Executive Board, and is CUPE 3903’s primary and ongoing connection to the CST. Honorarium: $1,500, paid in three equal installments during the year.

The PDF Committee (2 vacancies) attend four meetings a year (September, January, March, and June) to adjudicate the distribution of PDF funds, the Teaching Development Fund, and the Tuition Costs Fund. Honorarium: $200, paid out as $50 per meeting.

The Senate Representative (1 vacancy – alternate rep) represents the interests of CUPE 3903 at the York University Senate. This body includes representatives from all faculties, librarians, students, and other unions, and usually meets once a month. CUPE 3903 has one seat, elected for a one-year term.

**Due to technical difficulties, the CSSP deadline has been extended to November 7**

Please consult the 2016-17 Continuing Sessional Status Programme (CSSP) eligibility list from the employer for the upcoming CSSP application round. CSSP blanket applications are due on November 7, 2016.

As per the Unit 2 Collective Agreement (Art. 12 CSSP section, p. 33), the employer is required to provide us with this eligibility list on Oct. 1st, so that members have an opportunity to address any list anomalies.

If you think you should be included in the eligibility list, but your name is not listed, please contact Rob Lawson (rlawson@yorku.ca) in the Faculty Relations Office. The CSSP eligibility criteria are as follows: you need to have taught an average annual minimum of 2.0 over the past three years. That is, when you add up all of the teaching you have done in the past three years, your total needs to be at least 6.0, even if you have some years when you taught less than 2.0. As an example, if you taught 1.5, 1.5, and then 3.0, your average annual minimum would be 2.0 (total of 6 divided by 3 years = 2.0 average).

Very important notes:

1) Even if you were in the CSSP last year (2015-16), you still need to submit a blanket application on Nov. 7 to be considered for positions in the summer 2017 and fall/winter 2017-18 sessions.

2) In order to be eligible for the CSSP Guarantee or “payout,” in the event that you end up receiving less than your past 5 year average amount of work, you need to adhere to the following:

2a) Continue to apply to the same department(s) that you have in the past, even if you do not expect to get work in that department (maintaining your “historical application profile”). Make sure to keep good records of the application receipts you receive from departments.

2b) Be mindful of turning down work that is offered to you, as this might be used by the employer down the road to deny you a CSSP payout, if you ever find yourself in that situation. If you do turn down work (there could be any number of reasons for doing so), I would advise writing and keeping a short justification for possible future reference.

The employer has been stalling on our repeated requests for a Labour Management Committee (LMC) meeting, where we need to review all of the elements in 2) above.

Finally, there are 432 members on the 2016-17 CSSP eligibility list, which is an increase of 98 members (or about 29% from 334 CSSP members in 2015-16).

A picture of a microphone in front of a large audience

Please join us for a Unit II townhall

Date: November 3, 2016
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Harry Crowe Room, 109 Atkinson building

On May 14, 2015, LAPS Council approved the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Governance within the Faculty of LA&PS. The objective of this Ad Hoc Committee is to recommend to Council how best to strengthen democratic, inclusive, accountable and collegial governance within the Faculty. Members of the Ad Hoc committee include:

• Ricardo Grinspun, Department of Economics
• Terry Maley, Department of Political Science (Chair)
• Merouan Mekouar, Department of Social Science
• Anne O’Connell, School of Social Work
• Victor Shea, Department of Humanities
• Penni Stewart, Department of Sociology
• Lykke de la Cour, Department of Social Science (Contract Faculty Representative)
• Robyn Verley, Communication & Culture (Graduate Student Representative)
• Brandon Hart, Political Science (Undergraduate Student Representative)

The Ad Hoc Committee believes that an important aspect of its mandate is to develop recommendations with respect to Contract Faculty at York University and their participation in departmental, faculty, and university decision-making bodies. This report builds on the “Report to the Governance Committee of the Faculty of Arts: Contract Faculty Role,” that was prepared by Dr. Lélia Young, French Studies, back in 1998. You can read this report here.

To develop recommendations for the 2017 report, we need your input!

There are two ways you can have input:

1. Attend the CUPE 3903 Unit 2 Townhall on Thursday Nov. 3rd where members of the Ad Hoc Governance Committee will be in attendance to discuss with Contract Faculty concerns regarding their inclusion in governance structures at York University and hear recommendations.
2. If you cannot make this meeting, please send comments directly to the committee at: u2yorkgovernance@gmail.com.

Please come out and be sure to contribute to this important issue!
Other items on the agenda include updates on:

1. LSTAs
2. Conversions
3. CSSP
4. Preparing for 2017 Bargaining

Reminder: the deadline for members of the CSSP Pool to submit an Application is Tuesday, November 1, 2016.

Job title: Videographer Location: CUPE 3903, York University, Toronto CUPE 3903 is a local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing Teaching Assistants, Contract Faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Part-time Librarians and Archivists. We require the assistance of a professional videographer who can produce a high-quality campaign videos for distribution on our YouTube Channel. Education, experience, equipment and qualifications include:

• BFA in film studies including production or equivalent experience
• Background and experience digital HD video production and editing
• Access to a high definition (HD) video camera, professional sound recording equipment, lighting kit, and non-linear editing suite

Preference will be given to applicants who are members of CUPE 3903, or, should none be found, members of a union. Responsibilities include:

• Initial consultation meeting with the CUPE 3903 Communications Committee
• Preparation of a production plan and budget that covers recording, set up (one camera, lights, sound), post-production (editing, licensed music, sound mixing, titles, credits, CUPE 3903 logo), and finalization (including uploading of closed-captioning file prepared by a volunteer) for a series of three videos of varying lengths, none of which will be longer than 5 minutes.
• This is a non-unionized position in a unionized workplace in which staff are members of CUPE 1281. The successful applicant will work in conjunction with the CUPE 3903 communications committee.

Remuneration will be the same rate of pay as unionized staff: $50.25 per hour. The length of the contract cannot exceed 150 hours. There shall be no contracting out or sub-contracting for any of the work described in the job posting. Applicants must prepare a draft budget that itemizes production time and costs (including equipment rentals), separate from the rate of pay.

Please submit your letter of interest, C.V., draft budget and links to samples of previous work by November 16, 2016 via email:
To: CUPE3903comms@gmail.com
Subject: Application for Videographer

Interested applicants may direct any queries to CUPE3903comms@gmail.com.

CUPE 3903 is strongly committed to employment equity within our workplace, work environment, and broader community. We particularly encourage applications from persons with one or more disabilities, LGBTTQ persons, persons from racialized groups, Indigenous persons and women.

General Membership Meeting
Monday, October 24
12:30-3:30pm
Harry Crowe Room
109 Atkinson

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Tentative agenda:

1. Roll call of officers (5 mins)
2. Reading of the Equality Statement (3 mins)
3. Reading of the Mississauga Land Acknowledgement (2 mins)
4. Approval of Agenda (5 mins)
5. Reading and Approval of minutes (15 mins)
6. Notices (5 mins)
   1. Donation to Briarpatch labour magazine (Amount to be determined by the membership)
   2. Donation to Toronto350 for the Chippewas of the Thames ($2000)
7. Treasurer’s Report
8. Nominations, Elections or Installations
   1. Committee elections
   2. Conference delegate elections
9. Unfinished Business
   1. Donation to Citizen film project ($1000)
   2. Donation to OPIRG at U of T Disorientation 2016
   3. Donation to Justice for Migrant Workers’ Long March
   4. Donation to Regenesis York affordable housing project ($500)
   5. Donation to 15 Years of War in Afghanistan ($500)
   6. Endorsement for 15 Years of War in Afghanistan
   7. Endorsement for Justice for Migrant Workers Long March
   8. Endorsement for The Real Food Real Jobs Coalition
10. Matters Arising
    1. Donation to Regenesis York ($1000)
    2. Donation to “CHILE: SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1973– Black Bird Liberation Cinema Film Screenings”
    3. Donation to TAO ($1000)
    4. Donation to the Toronto screening of “Contract Faculty: Injustice in the University” ($300)
11. New Business
12. Reports of committees and delegates
    1. Stewards’ Council
    2. TFAC
13. Executive Reports
14. Good of the Union
15. 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.

A sign held at a sit-in at Kaneff Tower underlines the importance of labour rights.

In September, York rolled out its new ‘fellowship’ funding model. The roll-out of this model has been rife with problems, people being underpaid, funds being clawed-back, and a general lack of clarity and communication from York.

Worse still, this model has resulted in the loss of over 600 jobs. This is union-busting, and it requires political organizing. This involves decisions made by the membership as a whole. We will make these decisions together at this Special General Membership Meeting.

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Tentative Agenda:

1. Roll call of officers
2. Reading of the Equality Statement
3. Reading of the Mississauga Land Acknowledgement
4. Approving the agenda
5. Approving minutes: April 2016 SGMM on the ITO settlement
6. Fellowship model: what is it? Why do we care?
   1. Presentation
   2. Projects in the works
      1. Report from the executive committee
      2. Report from Stewards’ Council
7. Q & A
8. Strategizing
   1. Political organizing
   2. Legal strategy
9. Brainstorming

As always, there will be tokens and food available for all attendees. Please be advised that there are funds available for childcare for members attending (S)GMMs.

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 TFAC logo, a graphic image of a black cat.

The Trans Feminist Action Caucus (TFAC) is pleased to announce that Joanna Pearce has been acclaimed as the new TFAC Co-Chair!

Nominations for the position of TFAC Co-Chair opened on September 27 and closed on October 7. Find out more about the Trans Feminist Action Caucus (TFAC) here.

Polls closed on Wednesday, October 5, at 5pm in the Grievance Officer and VP Unit 3 by-elections. The results are below. Congratulations to the winners and many thanks to all who ran for these positions.

The low number of Unit 3 votes (11% turnout) is a symptom of the employer’s attempt to eradicate that unit entirely. We need to fight back to save Unit 3. Be sure to attend the Fellowship Strategy SGMM on October 14.

By-Election Results

Grievance Officer

Total number of ballots: 151
Sarah Hornstein: 100
Brendan Bruce: 49
Spoiled: 2

Vice-President Unit 3

Total number of ballots: 8
Jeffrey Zavala: 6
Graham Reeder: 2
Tracey J. Mann: 0
Spoiled: 0

Total ineligible sequestered ballots: 4

The campaigning period for the Grievance Officer and Vice-President Unit 3 by-elections began on September 14. Balloting will begin on September 28 and continue until October 5.

There will be one polling station at Keele Campus and one at Glendon campus, open 9-5 in the following spots:

• Keele Campus Polling Station: Vari Hall link (between Vari Hall and Central Square)
• Glendon Campus Polling Station: Outside the Cafeteria (across from York Hall, Room 170)

The available statements for the candidates are below.

Grievance Officer Candidates

Brendan Bruce

I am running for Grievance Officer because I believe that our local has to be better prepared for next year’s contract negotiations, and to utilize both the legal and direct action methods to help solve grievances.

We need to be prepared for bargaining our new CA in 2017, and last round we did not do enough research. I hope to prepare research on, but not limited to, language on tuition indexation, the Continuing Sessional Standing Program, our transit costs, and the equity hiring language. As an everyday member, I prepared the childcare research for the last round of bargaining, which our fund is based on. Also, in the last two summers, I have help prepare the legal research around the tuition indexation case, and the fellowships model: this has included finding our new legal council, preparing all the documents for the lawyers, and preparing reports to the Executive about the legal opinions we received.

This is my fourth year in 3903, and, in that time, I have been active as a departmental steward in Political Science. As a departmental steward, I have prepared both legal grievances and direct action grievances in our local. For example, in my department the 3903 offices had not been cleaned for years (mold, and other health & safety concerns) and when we asked our department to clean it, nothing ever happened. We collectively wrote up the (legal) grievance, passed around a petition, and then we marched together to give these demands to Faculty Relations. The employer cleaned our offices that weekend! By utilizing the strengthens of our membership together with the legal route, we can win more grievances and help set the terrain for next year’s contract negotiations.

So please vote in the upcoming elections: but even more than that, please get involved. Thank you.

Sarah Hornstein

I have been the pro-tem Grievance Officer since July, 2016, and I am asking for your support to continue in this role. I have 12 years of active experience in the local, including serving as a member of the Bylaws Committee, Unit 1 departmental steward (Sociology), Recording Secretary/Research Officer, and Chief Steward Unit 2.

I am passionate about the enforcement/protection and improvement of our Collective Agreements. Two of my terms on the Executive were bargaining years, so I bring a strong knowledge of our strengths and capacities as a union to the position. As Chief Steward Unit 2, I helped reestablish the Grievance Committee and worked closely with this committee to assess grievances. Since July, I have been using my experience and knowledge, as well as my good working relationship with the Staff and the Grievance Committee, to resolve grievances and fight for members. I also know our Employer. I have sat across the table from them in 3 bargaining rounds, in mediation and grievance meetings and, as a Contract Faculty member, I have faced them concerning my own hiring grievances.

I am a resource for members regarding the Collective Agreements and grievance procedures, and I enjoy working closely with the Collective Agreements. I also enjoy working with members to solve problems and improve our working conditions/experience.

As pro-tem Grievance Officer, I have been working to resolve grievances concerning hiring, postings, access to benefits, and GA work. I have also been compiling issues that we need to address in the upcoming bargaining round. I hope to use my position to inform members about our rights and to work with Stewards Council and use grievances to fight the racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism prevalent at York. Our workplace should be one where we are all treated with respect and where our Collective Agreements are upheld. As Grievance Officer I will work hard to ensure this.

Thank you for your consideration.

Vice-President Unit 3

Tracey J. Mann

Tracey Jastinder Mann is part-time student at York in the MSW program specializing in mental health and addictions. As a community organizer she has focused on wide variety of issues including migrant justice, indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, transformative justice, prison abolition and anti-violence movements.

Graham Reeder

My name is Graham Reeder and I am running for the VP of Unit 3 to bring new energy to this position in light of the crushing setback Unit 3 is facing with the new funding model, in which outreach and solidarity will be vital.

I am in my final year as an MES student at the faculty of Environmental Studies. While new to CUPE 3903 involvement, I have been organizing on climate justice and democracy issues for nearly a decade. I have been involved in organizing major local, national, and international campaigns including the cross-Canada mobilizations against Harper’s C-51 anti-terrorism bill and the 2015 march for jobs, justice, and the climate.

As VP of Unit 3, I hope to work on broadening and deepening our relationships with progressive and radical affinity groups on campus, in the city, and across the country. I believe that unions are at their strongest when they have built long-lasting relationships of solidarity both within and outside of their memberships, and that others will show up for us if we show up for them.

Unit 3 suffered a major setback with the rollout of the new graduate funding model. As VP I will work with rank and file union members as well as those who have been excluded from the union to ensure that the hard-earned gains made from the 2015 strike are not swept away by union-busting.

Jeffrey Zavala

My name is Jeffrey Zavala and I am running for the VP of Unit 3 to fight for all members against current austerity measures our employer has taken after the last strike. I am in my final term of my masters program in environmental studies and have the time and commitment to campaign to get jobs and benefits such as our annual printing credit back for all existing and future graduate students

As an active member from 2013 I have sat on various committees such as the Labour Management Committee for Unit 3, accessibility committee, distribution committee and have attended most monthly meetings and CUPE national and provincial conferences. Currently I am a posting officer and have also been an election officer in the past which is the experience that is needed to fill this important executive position.

I have been working with various groups on and off campus since 2003 as an undergraduate and graduate student. What is needed most is accountability transparency and equality for all our members and my focus on social justice is why I feel I am best served to serve all members in our union space.

The new funding model has proven that the university does not respect its employees and plans to exploit all students by pitting students against each other by focusing on free labour through non-paid internships and non-unionized labour such as work study positions. What is needed now more than ever is someone with experience and organizing skills to fight against the employers union busting tactics. I promise to bring accountability, transparency, equality and social justice as an executive member through my fight against the employers austerity measures.