Bargaining Bulletin #13
Unit 2, 4 & 6 Still Bargaining!
Unit 3 and 7 may have new CAs, but sibling Units 2, 4, and 6 remain in bargaining with their respective employers. Whatever unit you are in, get involved in supporting the ongoing coordinated campaign by visiting www.WeAreUofT.com/take-action. While you are there, you can find out more about the Bargaining Info Session via Zoom on April 24th from 2-3 pm!
Table Updates
Unit 2
Your Unit 2 Bargaining Committee last met with the Employer on April 14th, so there is no news to report since then. Our next scheduled date is April 25th, but we are asking for additional dates. As usual, the Employer is taking their time to respond.
Unit 4
Your Unit 4 Bargaining Committee met with the Employer on Wednesday, April 16th and Tuesday, April 22nd. Negotiations continue to be slow, but we are pressing the Employer for more responses to the comprehensive package we tabled on Day 1 (March 7th) of negotiations. We have made progress on housekeeping items, training, and health and safety. However, the Employer has not discussed financials, benefits, or seniority. Your Bargaining Committee reiterated our desire to move negotiations forward and work collaboratively to ensure a fair Collective Agreement that achieves the better working conditions, job security, compensation, and benefits you deserve. The Employer committed “to [send] something back to clarify where we are at before the next time we meet.” When reminded that the Unit 3 and Unit 7 Collective Agreements have already been ratified, the Employer responded that the Unit 3 Collective Agreement “does offer some good guidance on where we could align.” They only committed “to see what we think is truly applicable to this Unit.”
Notwithstanding the Employer’s delays, your Bargaining Committee continues to fight to protect your rights as workers, adding language that would allow the Union to provide more comprehensive information on your rights as contract academic workers with every letter of offer, as well as introducing language that strengthens the protection of long-standing employees. Your Bargaining Committee continues to fight for your best interests.
We will meet with the Employer next on Thursday, April 24th, and Tuesday, April 29th.
Unit 6
Your Bargaining Committee has met with the Employer on April 16th, 17th, and 22nd. We have made progress streamlining the advancement process for both Discipline Specific and International Foundation Program instructors. For International Summer Academy instructors, we have agreed to replace the current advancement process and instead worked towards an automatic advancement based on years of service. In terms of taking on work outside the IFP, we have secured our right to undertake work outside regular IFP hours and during the summer.
The Employer remains resistant to the creation of Curriculum Development Teams (CDTs). We have countered with proposals that continue to push back on this, and we remain committed to advocating for more professional opportunities for instructors. Regarding the Lead positions, the Employer has proposed that a Lead may choose to step down voluntarily, but they have not provided language on how Leads can be appointed. The Employer has yet to respond to financials. We continue to represent your demands at the table and are meeting the Employer on April 23rd, 24th, and 25th for full-day negotiations.
Unit 3 and Unit 7 Ratification
The Unit 3 and Unit 7 Collective Agreements (CAs) went into effect on Monday, April 14th, with some gains retroactive to September 1, 2024. For a summary chart of each CA, visit www.WeAreUofT.com.
Know Your Rights
The CA is a powerful tool to protect against workplace exploitation, but the employer can still try to bend or break the rules if they think that you and your coworkers don’t know your rights. Read through your new Collective Agreement, ask questions, attend information sessions. Know your rights!
Stay Involved
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information on how to join the new Unit 3 and Unit 7 working groups and how to participate in other important initiatives that seek to improve the working and living conditions for Unit 3 and Unit 7 workers.
Stay Informed!
Visit WeAreUofT.com to view each Unit’s proposal tracker, read the latest bulletins and announcements, get information on upcoming bargaining information sessions, and more!
