Bargaining Bulletin #5 – 85% YES Strike Vote

Bargaining Bulletin #5 – Executive Summary

• An overwhelming 85% of the 666 members who voted in the strike vote, voted YES. This is more than three times the number that participated in prior strike votes. 
• This vote comes in the wake of a week-long strike vote, which opened on October 26 after Unit 3 members in attendance at a virtual membership meeting voted unanimously to open a strike vote.
• The YES vote grants the legal authority to the Executive Committee to call a strike if necessary.
• The strike vote closed 428 days after the expiration of the previous CA.
• Bargaining will continue and is scheduled for the following dates in November: 9, 10, 18, 22, 24, 30.  
• A Conciliation Officer, Greg Long, has been appointed to help achieve an agreement between your Bargaining Team (BT) and the Employer.
• The next steps on the strike timeline include heightened strike preparation: we need all of you to talk to your students about the strike! 

Please see below for more details. 

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Bargaining Bulletin #5 – Expanded

An overwhelming 85% of the 666 members who voted, voted YES. This is more than three times the number that participated in prior strike votes. This YES vote grants the CUPE 3902 Executive Committee the legal authority to call a strike if necessary. Even with this strong and united result, you will be consulted again if a fair agreement cannot be reached before your Unit engages in a partial or full withdrawal of service. Similarly, if a Tentative Agreement is reached, you will be consulted to vote on the Tentative Agreement.

This YES vote came in the wake of an inspirational display of solidarity, where Unit 3 members in attendance at the virtual meeting on October 26 voted unanimously to open the strike vote.

The vote closed 428 days after the expiration of the Unit 3 Collective Agreement (CA). Despite this, your Bargaining Team (BT) has now only been able to meet with the Employer 15 times. Nervous about the threat of strike action, the Employer is already more motivated, suggesting further dates to meet with your BT. Your continued engagement and solidarity will be needed to achieve your demands.

A Conciliation Officer, Greg Long, has been appointed to help Unit 3 and the Employer reach such an agreement. His first day at the bargaining table will tentatively be November 10, 2022. It is important to note that on dates when your BT and the Employer are mutually available to meet, there will be continued dialogue at the table, even if Greg is unavailable to attend. The Employer has signaled their desire to achieve a Tentative Agreement within a month, an unrealistic timeline unless they soon get serious about recognizing your value with greater job security and a pathway to permanent employment.

Some minor gains made since Bulletin #4 include the Employer’s proposed letters on domestic violence and employment equity.

So far in November, your BT and the Employer have planned bargaining sessions on November 2, 9, 10, 18, 22, 24, and 30. Next steps in negotiations include clarifying the advancement processes for Sessional Lecturers, Sessional Instructional Assistants, Writing Instructors, and Music Professionals. Next steps on the strike timeline include heightened strike preparation, picket captain training, sign-making, and setting up systems for strike pay  payments. Importantly, we need all of you to talk to your students about the strike! 

We will continue to keep you informed through regular Bargaining Bulletins and our newly-launched website, weareuoft.com. We are not the pawns of U of T. We are not on a mission to erode the quality of U of T. We are not merely employees of U of T. We. Are. U. Of. T.
In solidarity,

The Unit 3 Bargaining Team

Erich Vogt
Frédérique Vézina 
Thomas Robles
Kenneth McNeilly
Thomas Laughlin
Keshav Krishnamurty 
Amy Conwell
David Simao
Leila Meskine