The position of Chief Steward Unit 2 has become vacant due to resignation and needs to be filled immediately. Due to the high volume of grievances and other cases that the union is experiencing, the executive committee has decided to open nominations for a candidate to be pro temmed (temporarily appointed) at the October 8th Executive Committee meeting (as per Article 14 V. (b) of the bylaws). Nominations for a full by-election will open at the October General Membership Meeting.
This is a unit-specific position. If you are in Unit 2 you can nominate yourself by emailing Emilie Hurst, Recording Secretary, by 5pm on October 7th.
September GMM (September 29th, 2020) – Tentative Agenda
Our next GMM will be September 29thth, 2020 on zoom! At this GMM, we will be voting bylaw amendments, as well as donation requests as well as discussing bargaining. All members are encouraged to attend.
Keep reading for the tentative agenda, accessibility information and more.
UHIP enrollment for international graduate student members
Recently, a number of members have approached the Union over concerns that they have not been automatically (re-)enrolled in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) for international students and dependents. This enrollment typically takes place in mid-August.
According to York International, automatic enrollment will NOT be taking place this year, “since many students are completing their programs remotely due to courses being online, [they] are only enrolling students under UHIP who are in Canada this Fall.”
International student members must complete the “International Student Information Form” in order to trigger the enrollment process.
LINK: https://yorkinternational.apps01.yorku.ca/machform/view.php?id=394296
Nomination for Childcare Committee
Nominations have reopened for one vacancy on the Childcare committee. Details of the position can be read here. Interested members can nominate themselves by emailing VP Unit 1, Stacey Berquist by Monday September 28, 2020.
Vacancy for Two Elections Officers
Nominations have reopened for two Elections Officer positions. Details of the position can be read here. Interested members can nominate themselves by emailing VP Unit 1, Stacey Berquist by Monday, September 28, 2020.
#ScholarStrikeCanada – Academic Strike Against Racism
Wednesday, September 9th and Thursday, September 10th (8am–9pm)
On September 9th and 10th across the U.S.A. and Canada, universities are organizing digital teach-ins for anti-racism, and for anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism in particular. In Toronto, faculty are planning a strike at four universities on those days.
CUPE 3903 stands in solidarity with this action and encourages all members to talk specifically about the pervasiveness of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, and the racism that all people of colour face in academia at York University. From the discriminatory practices in academic hiring, to the exclusionary designing of curricula across departments and faculties, to the tokenistic approach in course content, course directors and teaching assistants are urged to examine how systemic racism pervades academia and the courses they teach. Members can share information and resources with their students and invite discussion in the classroom. In particular, we would like to encourage those who are teaching on September 9th and 10th to address systemic racism in post-secondary education at York University.
Through September 9–10, 2020, ScholarStrikeCanada is hosting public digital teach-ins.
The full schedule of digital teach-ins can be found here
Bargaining Surveys
The deadline to submit the bargaining surveys was extended at the September 29th GMM for three more weeks. The new deadline is October 21, 2020!
Our Collective Agreement with York University expired on August 31, 2020. To prepare for bargaining we need input from as many members as possible. Your responses will help shape our bargaining proposals and priorities. Please respond and return them at your earliest convenience. All information collected will be treated as strictly confidential by the Bargaining Team and the Executive Committee.
Please select your unit
Bargaining Survey for Unit 1 (Full-time Graduate Students Who Are Teaching Assistants, Marker/Graders, Lab Assistants, Tutors)
Bargaining Survey for Unit 2 (Contract Faculty and Part-Time Graduate Students)
Bargaining Survey for Unit 3 (Graduate Assistants and Research Assistants)
Bargaining Team Vacancies
Nominations for the following vacancies on the Bargaining Team are now open:
Unit 1 BT representative: 1 vacancy
Unit 3 BT representative: 2 vacancies
Interested members should fill out the following nomination form and submit it no later than Friday Sept 18th by midnight.
Should the positions be contested, elections will be held at a date to be determined.
Bargaining SGMM (August 28th, 2020) – Tentative Agenda
We are hosting a Bargaining Special General Membership Meeting via Zoom! At this meeting, the bargaining team will be presenting updates and preliminary bargaining timeline. We will also be voting on bargaining parameters and discuss what it means to bargain in the era of COVID 19. All members are encouraged to attend.
Keep reading for the tentative agenda, accessibility information and more.
Open Committee Positions
Nominations have opened for the committees listed below. With the exception of the Elections Committee and the Hiring Committee Alternate, the term served for each of these positions runs from September to September. All interested members should email VPU1 Stacey Berquist at cupe3903vpu1@gmail.com by Tuesday September 1st.
- Elections Committee (2 positions)
- Childcare Committee (4 positions)
- Professional Development Fund coordinator (1 position)
- Professional Development Fund members (2 positions)
- Research Grants Fund and Travel Cost Fund Committee (Unit 2 only, 2 positions)
- Ways and Means (3 positions)
- Rank and File Equity Officer Hiring Committee Alternate (1 position)