Bargaining Bulletin #1

It’s a bargaining year for Units 2, 3, 4, 6 & 7

Following last year’s coordinated bargaining strategy for Units 1 and 5, which led to big wins for TAs, Course Instructors, and Postdocs, we’re keeping up the collective fight.

Together, members of Units 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 are stronger and have more leverage in our negotiations, and this translates to more substantial gains for all.

For years, U of T has tried to create divisions between workers by separating us and our coworkers into different Locals and Units! This is why, as contract education workers, we must stand united in our demands for equity, respect, a living wage and better working conditions.

Workers United at the Back to Work BBQ

On September 21, CUPE 3902, CUPE 3261, and CUPE 1230 co-hosted a Back to Work BBQ. The festivities included performances from the CUPE 3902 Labour Choir, drag story-time with Fay & Fluffy, lawn games, and more.

At the BBQ, your local officially launched the bargaining campaign! Your coworkers across units addressed the crowd and rallied around some of the key issues for this round of negotiations:

We deserve equal pay for equal work. Steven Logan, a sessional lecturer (Unit 3) at UTM’s Institute for Communication, Culture, Information and Technology, spoke to the dire situation for adjunct faculty: “We’re treated as temporary workers, and yet in actuality, we’re full-time workers. If we are full-time workers, we should be treated that way.”

U of T can’t provide world-class education without our labour. But U of T’s reputation doesn’t always translate into adequate compensation for our work. Yes, U of T is the most prestigious university in Canada, but as OISE Graduate Assistant Alex Vesuna (Unit 7) reminded us, “prestige does not pay the rent. Nor does prestige pay the bills.”

Workers are more powerful when we fight together. Jaclyn Piudik, a writing instructor at Victoria College (Unit 2) and at Woodsworth College (Unit 3) addressed the BBQ crowd, noting that “‘many of us in the union are working in multiple units, partially because we are not getting enough hours or enough work in one unit. This speaks to the reason for coordinated bargaining, and how together we can actually have more power in our negotiations.”

FILL OUT YOUR BARGAINING SURVEY NOW!

Your CUPE 3902 Bargaining Committees recently launched a bargaining survey, which was sent to all of the members of the units going into negotiations for a new collective agreement. This is the first step of our shared campaign, an opportunity to make your voice heard and set the agenda for this round of bargaining!

Are you tired of unfair hiring practices, receiving different pay for the same work that your colleagues do in other units? Do you want job security? Are you overworked? Do you have adequate space for the work you do? Do you struggle to make ends meet with the wages you are paid?

Fill out your bargaining survey today to let your Bargaining Committee know the workplace issues that matter the most to you! Your responses shape the direction of the bargaining platform and the proposals that will be brought to the negotiating table. In solidarity we will win!

GET INVOLVED!

It’s never too early to join the fight for fair working conditions. Volunteer for your campaign by filling out this sign-up form.

BARGAINING INFO SESSIONS:

Find out more about how collective bargaining works, the different steps involved, and where we are in the process. These sessions are open to all members of Units 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7.

ALL SESSIONS WILL BE HELD ONLINE.

Tuesday October 15 5:30-6:30pm [Register here]

Thursday October 17 12:00-1:00pm [Register here]