Bargaining Bulletin #4
EMPLOYERS DRAG THEIR FEET WHILE YOU STRUGGLE TO EAT
Units 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 filed notice to bargain months ago, but only some of the Units have received table dates. Unit 3 has met with the employer 6 times so far, while Unit 7 has met twice, and Unit 2 has only met once at the table.
Across all units, you and your coworkers came out strongly to support coordinated bargaining, but your employers have been dragging their feet to keep your timelines separate and to prioritize some units over others.
While we struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living, the employer continues to tell us that there’s no money to invest in us. Our work is essential to the University’s functioning and its world-class reputation, but we continue to face barriers to job security and advancement. It’s time to show the employer that we are serious about being treated with equal respect and dignity. U of T, St. Michael’s College, and Victoria College benefit from keeping us fragmented from one another, but we know that when the workers are united, we are unstoppable.
UNITS 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 TURN UP THE TEMPERATURE
On February 6, 2025, Units 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 collectively filed for conciliation with the Ministry of Labor, meaning that your bargaining teams requested that a Conciliation Officer meet with both parties to attempt to reach a tentative agreement.
If an agreement is not reached, the Ministry files a “No Board” report, which begins a 17-day countdown until workers in Units 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 are in a legal strike or lockout position. Conciliation is
a normal part of the bargaining process, and is a mandatory step if you and your co-workers decide you need to go on strike.
Why did we file for conciliation?
To put pressure on U of T, St. Michael’s College, and Victoria College to meet with us and hear our demands. Conciliation adds urgency for the employer to prioritize our units equally.
BARGAINING UPDATES
UNIT 3
On February 7, the Employer responded to your Unit 3 bargaining team’s proposals on advancement for Sessional Lecturers, Writing Instructors, and Applied Music Sessional by stating that they are not in favour of “doing anything that makes it flexible for people to move through the process very quickly.” The employer is purposely trying to add hurdles to the advancement process.
For example, the Employer proposed to further restrict what teaching counts towards advancement—they want only work that you did as a Unit 1 or UTFA member in the advancing department to count towards your eligibility for advancement. This counter ignores the reality that many of you and your coworkers must seek appointments across departments and institutions to make a living, it devalues your currency in and mastery of the subject matter you teach, and ignores that many of us have taught at U of T before becoming Sessional Lecturers.
Your Bargaining Committee also re-motivated the proposal for paid orientation for new Unit 3 members, which the employer had initially rejected. New Unit 3 members are also new to the university and/or are teaching at multiple institutions, and so are not aware of the processes and resources specific to the University of Toronto. Having onboarding training will also allow new members to be aware of their rights and benefits as unionized workers.
UNIT 7
On February 10, your Unit 7 Bargaining Committee had their second meeting with the employer and tabled all non-financial proposals.
The employer had few initial responses, yet still signalled that they are prepared to be combative towards our proposals and unwilling to compromise. Several of our proposals sought parity and equal treatment with Unit 1 Teaching Assistants, such as the introduction of Unit 1-style Description of Duties and Allocation of Hours (DDAH) forms that clearly allocate work hours and outline duties and help protect against overwork.
In response, the employer said that your Unit 7 Graduate Assistant work is too different from Unit 1 TA work, therefore the ask for equal treatment is “problematic.” Do they consider it problematic that, without DDAH-style protections, some Graduate Assistants are tasked with picking up their supervisors’ laundry or are forced to work more hours than agreed to in their contract?
By repeatedly saying that your Unit 7 work is different and therefore does not deserve the same improvements that our sibling units have won in their contracts, the employer is okaying the continuation of exploitative labour practices.
UNIT 2
On February 7, your Unit 2 Bargaining committee met with the employer for the first time. Their opening statement highlighted your four central demands for improved job security, professional development, benefits, and a living wage.
In this first meeting, your bargaining team tabled almost all of your proposals, covering issues from professional development, to improved office space and library access, to stronger language on hiring criteria and job security. Although the employer emphasized that Victoria College is separate from UofT, they were still quick to repeat the same old story of ‘fiscal responsibility’ that was fed by U of T to Units 3 and 7.
In response to your proposals, the employer tabled underwhelming and vague language on hiring criteria for Sessional Lecturers, job postings, and hiring grievances. This lack of meaningful engagement was followed by an offer to meet again only on March 3, demonstrating the employer’s lack of urgency and seriousness.
UNIT 4
Your Unit 4 bargaining team is ready to get to the table with St. Michael’s College, but they haven’t even responded to our request to meet! Your team has offered tons of dates for the next few weeks to St. Michael’s leadership, but neither their Labour Relations representative nor Human Resources Director have confirmed receipt, let alone offered any dates in return! We’re ready with a full package of proposals that reflect your priorities, but St. Michael’s isn’t letting us in the door!
UNIT 6
Your Unit 6 bargaining team has requested table dates in February and March, but the employer wants to wait until April. Your bargaining team will continue to push to bring your proposals to the table as soon as possible, and for your demands—for improved job security and benefits, wage increases commensurate with the growing cost of living, and clear language around workload and outside work—to receive the consideration they deserve!
In the meantime, your bargaining team held a Town Hall on February 11 with strong turnout from you and your Unit 6 coworkers, who expressed unanimous support for new language in your collective agreement that opens up more leadership opportunities to the membership.
SIGN THE PETITION FOR FAIRNESS AND RESPECT!
We, the members of CUPE 3902 Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 6, and Unit 7 are fighting collectively for better workplace conditions, pay, and job security! We call to University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College, and Victoria College to agree to the proposals our bargaining teams have tabled.
Add your name to the growing list of workers who demand fair pay, more opportunities for advancement and job security, increases to benefits and protections, and respect for all members of Units 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7.
Meet Your Coworkers!
“When budget cuts happen, it is always the most precarious workers who suffer, but ironically, these workers carry the brunt of the workload and the university would not run without us. That’s why we’re fighting for better job security. It is obvious the federated colleges, although technically separate employers from U of T, coordinate their side of bargaining, and that’s why we are too! Only together do we have a chance at fighting for our jobs.”
Mark Gibbard, Unit 4
Celtic Studies, St. Michael’s College
“As Sessional Lecturers we are often treated as second class instructors in this University. Yet, without us, teaching and learning at U of T would grind to an almost complete halt. We feel devalued by our employer, yet know from our students that our knowledge, experience and the care we bring to our teaching spaces is valued by the students at U of T. I support my bargaining team because they fight for respect and dignity in our workplace!”
Analaura Pauchulo, Unit 3
Sessional Lecturer at OISE & Faculty of Social Work
