Your bargaining team met with the employer’s bargaining team on November 5th. We would like to give you a brief update on where negotiations stand so far.
McMaster finally made a serious monetary proposal, including increases to wages and benefits.
– McMaster’s offer is for a 5-year contract. Your bargaining team believes that securing a 3-year contract is strategically important for future bargaining leverage. A 3-year contract means that in 2027, Sessionals will be able to combine their bargaining leverage with TAs and Postdocs, which means we will be much more likely to secure a far better contract for members in all three units.
– McMaster’s latest wage proposal will keep Sessional Faculty pay well below wages at UW, Western, York, Queens, U of T, and Ottawa for at least 4 years (see the bar graph below for comparison). These other universities have been able to gain significant wage increases in previous years by having a mobilized membership ready to strike for a better contract, and by combining negotiations with other bargaining units.
– McMaster is effectively trying to buy their way out of a three-year contract because they also know that combining our bargaining leverage with TAs and Postdocs would put them at a disadvantage in 2027.
– After originally proposing no increase in benefits money, McMaster has met our demands for the first three years of their proposed contract.
– McMaster has not moved on job security or TA support.
For more details on McMaster’s latest offer, please see the chart below.
|
Issue |
CUPE 3906 proposal |
McMaster’s proposal |
Notes |
|
Wages |
8.3% – year one $8724
3% – year two $8972.22
3% – year three $9241.39
14.3% over 3 years
4.7% yearly average |
3.5% – year one (plus $300 lump sum for Sessionals paid the current base rate in Fall 2024) $8338.34
3.75% – year two $8651.03
2% – year three $8824.05
2.5% – year four (plus 1% Market adjustment; 3.5% overall) $9132.89
2.5% – year five (plus guaranteed market adjustment of 2%; 4.5% overall) $9543.87
17.25% over 5 years
3.45% yearly average |
McMaster previously offered 2.5% in year one, and 2.25% in years two – five |
|
Guaranteed TA Support |
One guaranteed TA for every 50 students |
No guaranteed TA |
|
|
Enhanced Job Security |
Teach the same course twice, get right of first refusal (i.e. ongoing continuous appointment when offered to Sessionals) |
No enhanced job security |
|
|
Benefits
Current amount: $180,000
Current amount:
Current amount:
Current amount: |
Health benefits:
Year two (Sept. 1 2025) $230,205
Year three (Sept 1, 2026) $230,205
Professional development fund:
Year two
Year three $80,000
Dental Plan: Year one Year two $141,250
Year three
Family Dental: Year one $62,000
Year two $72,000
Year three $82,000 |
Year one $214,305
Year two-five $230,305
Year one $60,000
Year two $70,000
Year three-five $80,000
Year one
$131,250
Year two $141,250
Year three-five $151,250
Year one
$62,000
Year two $72,000
Year three-five $82,000 |
Employer previously offered no change to benefit amounts |
|
Length of contract |
3 years (aligning future negotiations with units 1 and 3) |
5 years |
|
