Over the next few days, the employer plans to promote an “Open Letter to CUPE 3903 Members” through official channels and as an advertisement in the Excalibur (as indicated since they named the file “YU_Labour_ExcalAD_Jan24”). Spreading lies to their own employees is a dirty tactic, and not at all consistent with good faith bargaining.

Because we are educators, we have corrected the employer’s letter below. Unfortunately, because it is factually inaccurate and makes unsubstantiated logistical leaps, we must give it an “F”.

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Special General Membership Meeting
Friday Jan. 19, 2018
1:30pm-3:00pm
Location: 109 Atkinson (Harry Crowe Room)

Join and share the event on Facebook!

Tentative Agenda

1. Roll Call of Executive Officers and Bargaining Team
2. Reading of the Equality Statement
3. Reading of the Mississauga Land Acknowledgement
4. Bargaining Report Back – Need for the Strike Mandate
5. Bargaining Mobilization Report – Get Out the Vote!
6. 8th Line Planning Report
7. Election of Three Scrutineers
8. Adjournment

There will be a second SGMM next Tuesday January 23 at 1:30pm. Voting ends next Friday January 26!

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.

While we are getting ready for the Strike Mandate Vote and despite a good contribution of our members to help in the election, we still need more poll clerks in the following times/locations to fill our five polling stations. These positions are paid $15/hr and Only members of CUPE 3903 can apply:

Keele Campus Polling Stations:

Vari Hall Link: Jan. 22 from 8:45 to 14:30

William Small Centre:  

Jan. 22 from 8:45 to 13 and from 13 to 17:15

Jan. 23 from 8:45 to 13

Vanier College: Jan. 23 from 8:45 to 13

Mobile Station:

Jan. 24 and 25 from 13 to 17

If you are interested in working as a poll clerk, please email cupe3903vpu1@gmail.com

In your email, please briefly indicate:

• the exact shift(s) that you can work (date, time, location)
• your cell phone number,
• whether you have any experience

On Monday, January 15, the bargaining team for CUPE 3903 Units 1, 2, and 3 met with the employer and the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour, Greg Long.

The bargaining team has prepared a comparative table of the proposals: Bargaining Proposals and Responses up to January 15. All of the proposal documents which have been tabled so far are available on the Reports page.

We are very disappointed that no substantive bargaining has occurred since October. The employer seems to be investing more resources and energy into a misleading PR campaign than negotiating. It is becoming increasingly clear that without a show of strength, CUPE 3903 will be forced to accept concessionary contracts.

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The CUPE 3903 Executive Committee and Bargaining Team are calling for a strong strike mandate vote. A ‘YES’ vote empowers the bargaining team to negotiate a good deal for all three units. A strong strike mandate puts pressure on the employer to negotiate a fair deal. As we have detailed in nearly all the Bargaining Reports, the employer has so far made a mockery of the bargaining process. Without a strong “yes” vote, we will not only fail to gain improvements; there is a strong probability we will be forced to accept concessions.

Voting is open from Monday January 22 to Friday January 26.

Polling Stations

Keele Campus:

• Vari Hall link: 9 am – 8 pm
• Vanier College (front lobby): 9 am – 5 pm
• William Small Centre (near the Tim Hortons): 9 am – 5 pm

Roaming Station (Keele Campus):

• Monday, Jan 22 1 pm – 2 pm, Behavioural Sciences Building,163 (Minden Room)
• Monday, Jan 22, 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm, 3rd Floor Bergeron, Civil Graduate Student Office
• Monday, Jan 22, 3 pm – 4 pm, 4th Floor Bergeron, MecE Graduate Student Office
• Tuesday, Jan 23, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm, Bergeron Building, Cafeteria at the main floor
• Tuesday, Jan 23, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Harry Crowe room, 109 Atkinson (during the SGMM)
• Wednesday, Jan 24, 12 pm – 12:45 pm, Ross N 620
• Wednesday Jan 24, 1 pm – 4 pm, first floor at Osgoode Hall’s Atrium, located next to the Law Library in the Ignat Kaneff Building

If you require the polling station to come to your office for accessibility reasons, please contact Hossein at cupe3903vpu1@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Glendon Campus:

• across from the cafeteria: 11 am – 6:30 pm

More information on the Strike Mandate Vote is below.

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York claims that the union is rejecting increases to benefits. As this screenshot from their counters package shows, they are the ones who have said “no” to increases for dental, vision, and paramedical.

On Thursday, January 11, the bargaining team for CUPE 3903 Units 1, 2, and 3 met with the employer and the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour, Greg Long.

All of the proposal documents which have been tabled so far are available on the Reports page.

The employer began the day by complaining about rank-and-file members’ tweets again, demonstrating that they are still policing members’ social media accounts rather than focusing on bargaining. It is clear that this time could be better allocated, as the employer remains a firm “no” on 60 proposals. Most of these refusals are without explanation or rationale. The document provided to the union (which can be found here) clearly shows York’s complete intransigence in the face of proposals that would greatly improve not only the livelihoods of our members, but the quality of education at York — for example job security for contract faculty, reducing class sizes, and training Teaching Assistants to respond to disclosures of sexual violence.

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On January 10, 2018, the CUPE 3903 General Membership Meeting discussed the state of bargaining and passed motions reaffirming the importance of securing job security for contract faculty (Unit 2), securing graduate funding and including the fellowship funding model for Units 1 and 3, equity in the workplace, and resisting all concessions.

The lack of movement on these issues is the reason why the Executive Committee and Bargaining Team have called for a Strike Mandate Vote on January 22-26. Vote YES to empower the bargaining team and send a clear signal to the employer that we won’t settle without a fair contract.

The full text of the motions is below.

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Three elections were held at the January 10 General Membership Meeting: delegates to the Labour Notes Conference, Professional Development Fund representative, and Toronto and York Region Labour Council representative. The results are below.

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On Monday, January 8, the bargaining team for CUPE 3903 Units 1, 2, and 3 met with the employer and the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour, Greg Long.

A comparative table of proposals and responses has been prepared by the bargaining team: Bargaining Proposals and Responses up to January 8. All of the proposal documents which have been tabled so far are available on the Reports page.

Continue reading →

Poll clerks are needed to staff polling stations during the Strike Mandate Vote. These positions are paid $15/hr and poll clerks may work multiple shifts. Only members of CUPE 3903 can apply and preference will be given to members with previous experience, though all members are encouraged to apply. Here are the times and locations that poll clerks need to attend:

SGMM Polling Station (Jan. 19th) 1:15 pm to 3:15 pm

Keele Campus Polling Stations (Jan. 22 to 26th):

• Vari Hall Link 8:45 am to 8:15 pm
• William Small Centre 8:45 am to 5:15 pm
• Vanier College 8:45 am to 5:15 pm
• Mobile Station 10:45 am to 5:15 pm (number of days may be reduced)

Glendon Campus Polling Station (Jan. 22 to 26th): 10:45 am to 3:15 pm

If you are interested in working as a poll clerk, please email cupe3903vpu1@gmail.com

In your email, please briefly indicate:

• the exact shift(s) that you can work (date, time, location)
• your cell phone number,
• whether you have any experience