Dear CUPE 3906 Unit 2 members (Sessional Instructors),
Your bargaining team met with the employer’s bargaining team at McMaster on October 4th and October 11th. We would like to give you a brief update on where negotiations stand so far.
Our bargaining priorities have not changed:
- Compensation & workload: wages, class size and TA support
- Stronger job security: seniority and first consideration
- Enhanced benefits: support for mental and physical health
- Equity and respect: material support for members in equity-seeking groups and more transparency and communication about departmental changes and restructuring
- Contract expiration date: align the Unit 2 contract expiry date with Units 1 and 3 (2027)
McMaster’s current offer is still subpar. After meeting with us several times, they have still only offered us crumbs:
- Sub-inflationary wage increase: only 2.75% in the first year ($8277.92 per semester 3-unit course), and 2.5% for the following 4 years ($86, $8696.98, $8914.40, $9137.26).
- No job security: still, no attempt to reduce precarity in the university sector such as the right of first refusal.
- Crushing workload: still, insufficient support for increasing class sizes and administrative duties.
- Inequity and disrespect: still, trying to erode the Union’s ability to fight for you in addressing workplace problems and disciplinary action.
This weak contract is also long. McMaster wants to lock us into an agreement with a sub-inflationary wage increase for five years. What you can do:
- In order to demonstrate to the employer that the membership is together on our demands, we need to send them a united message. Let them know we need a fair deal: https://forms.gle/PkT6Rnp6CgSJ3HaA7
- To become a unit 2 steward, contact Hamed leadsteward_sessionals@cupe3906.org
- Join the Contract Action Team (CAT) to help with outreach to members during bargaining: https://forms.gle/WLSdAkZeKATHKiqg7
The Bargaining Team’s next steps:
- Our next bargaining date is October 25th. Stay tuned for an update on https://bettermac.ca/unit-2-bargaining-updates/
In solidarity,
Your Unit 2 Bargaining Team