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Bargaining Team Report Back: Week of August 21, 2023

Bargaining Team Report Back

Week of August 21, 2023

In preparation for two meetings with the Employer in the final week of August, the BT finalized its first suite of monetary proposals as well as new proposals related to Unit 3. These proposals were approved by the BT and subsequently by the membership at the GMM on August 24. 

Wage Proposal

Following weeks of research and coordination between the BT, the Wage and Funds Sub-Committee, the Bargaining Research Committee—and drawing on the guidance of membership, staff, and legal counsel—the BT finalized its wage proposal which the membership approved on August 24. The wage proposal includes three main pieces: retroactive wage increases that recover lost wages from the Bill-124 era (2020-2023), new wage increases that would apply to the next collective agreement, and inflation indexation to secure those wage gains against future economic volatility. Retroactive wage increases are desirable because they establish a new baseline that the next collective agreement (2023-2026) would build upon. The specific wage increase amounts reflect the demands expressed by the membership in the bargaining surveys, the combined effects of Bill 124 and inflation on diminishing the real wages of CUPE 3903 members, sky-rocketing cost of living throughout the GTA, and recent successful wage victories by other unions in the sector. 

Funds Proposals

The BT prepared two sets of funds proposals. The first focused on funds that had been identified by CUPE 3903 Financial Officers (i.e., Ways and Means, Extended Health Benefits, Professional Development, Trans, Childcare, and SASSF) as requiring specific increases. Consulting fund usage data reports prepared by Financial Officers and coordinating with fund committees, the BT developed proposals to substantially increase these key funds to accommodate the needs of the membership. In addition, the BT prepared a set of other funds and monetary proposals. These focused on increasing Grant-In-Aid and Graduate Financial Assistance in the same manner and to the same degree as the proposed increases to wages. They also proposed increases to several other funds to respond to the recent inflation (and projected future inflation). 

Unit 3 Proposals

The BT also prepared Unit 3 proposals that were passed by the membership on August 24. These proposals address (1) the lack of financial information in job postings for Unit 3 positions and (2) the fact that GAs currently receive no contract or offer of appointment. These proposals would provide more transparency and financial clarity for Unit 3 members. 

Upcoming Bargaining Meetings with the Employer

CUPE 3903 is committed to open bargaining, which means all members are welcome to attend bargaining meetings (either in person or via Zoom). The in-person location for these meetings with the Employer is 519 Kaneff Tower on the Keele Campus; see below for details about accessibility. Here are the next few meetings with the employer (also shared on 3903’s website calendar):

Tuesday, August 29 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 to 5:00 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vdeyrrz8tHtScfk2N4sQDoNZnj_6vm7ke

Thursday, August 31 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 to 5:00 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvc-ihqD4tH924nZSvkKGhbZCA85G0_q96

There is a one-hour break between noon and 1:00 pm. 

Upcoming 3903 Bargaining Team Meetings

As always, we encourage members to participate in our regular bi-weekly bargaining team meetings (without the Employer), all on Zoom. Here are the next few bargaining team meetings (also shared on 3903’s website’s calendar):

Tuesday, August 29, 9:00 – 10 am

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vdeyrrz8tHtScfk2N4sQDoNZnj_6vm7ke

Thursday, August 31, 9:00 – 10 am

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvc-ihqD4tH924nZSvkKGhbZCA85G0_q96

Accessibility of Bargaining Meetings 

For the regular twice-weekly bargaining team meetings, Zoom captions will be enabled. For the bargaining meetings with the Employer, CART will be available. If you require ASL interpretation or reimbursement for childcare/caregiver/attendant care or have any other requests for accommodation, please contact our Equity Officer, Nadia Kanani, at cupe3903equity@gmail.com.

Due to the high demand for ASL interpreters, we encourage members to provide, when possible, two weeks’ notice if ASL interpretation is required.

Kaneff 519, the location for 3903 bargaining on August 1, has some interior doors that are not power assisted. If you require support with any doors, please email the 3903 Equity Officer (cupe3903equity@gmail.com) to let us know when you will be arriving, so that someone can come out to meet you at the elevator on the 5th floor. All gender, single user, accessible washrooms are located on the same floor. Masking in the meeting room is encouraged.

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