Items in this section:
- Talking to undergrads about bargaining
- Sample questions from undergrads
Talking to undergrads about bargaining
How to use this script: Take a few minutes at the beginning or end of your lecture, class or tutorial to read this script – or your own version – to introduce your students to CUPE 3903 and the bargaining process. The objective is to show students that the union supports them and that unions improve the quality of their education at York. Direct them to betterYork.ca for more information.
My name is ____________________ and I am a member of CUPE 3903, Unit _____.
CUPE 3903 is the union that represents contract faculty, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, and research assistants at York University. We have almost 3,700 members all across campus.
Unit 1 members are full-time graduate students (usually PhD students) who teach part time, mostly as teaching assistants.
Unit 2 members are full- and part-time teachers or instructors, mostly contract faculty. Unit 2 members are not students.
Unit 3 members are full-time graduate students (usually Master students) who research part time, mostly as graduate or research assistants.
Like you, we are concerned about rising tuition fees and student debt; education funding cuts; racism and discrimination in the university; and threats to safety on campus.
All of these problems affect the quality of your education at York. And we want to do something about it.
We believe a better York is possible.
We believe in accessible, high quality education for all students, a fair and equitable workplace, and a safe and healthy campus.
As education workers, we bring these demands to the bargaining table when we negotiate a new contract with the university. On August 31, our contract expired. At the moment, we are negotiating a new contract, and we want a fair deal for everyone.
When we negotiate to improve our working conditions, we are also negotiating to improve your learning conditions – and the quality of your education at York.
For example, improving our job security gives us more time to develop and teach high quality courses.
Creating fair and equitable hiring processes helps make the workforce as diverse and as representative as you are.
Capping class sizes means more one-on-one instruction and a better learning environment for you.
Improving health-and-safety standards helps make the campus safer and more secure for workers and students alike.
In the coming weeks, we will bring more proposals like these to the bargaining table, but we need your support to ensure the university takes us seriously!
We all know that a better York is possible.
If we work together, we can make it happen.
For more information, please visit betterYork.ca.
Thank you for listening. Are there any questions?
Sample questions from undergrads: