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PrintParent Updates-Labour Relations
November 9, 2009 - 9:00 p.m.
CUPE accepts University offer – strike is over
CUPE 3906 unit 1 has released the results from its ratification vote on the University’s best offer. The vote was 58% in favour of accepting the employer’s offer.
The ratification means the week-long strike by TAs and RAs is now over. “We appreciate that teaching and research assistants have voted in favour of our offer, said Peter Smith, chair of the University’s bargaining committee and associate vice-president, Academic. “It was in everyone’s interest to find a speedy resolution to the strike. The vote result means a fair deal for TAs and RAs, and a return to normal for undergraduate students.”
All TAs and RAs should report to their supervisor to return to regular duties. We expect all tutorials and labs should run on their normal schedules by mid-week, once a return-to-work protocol has been finalized.
November 4, 2009 - 11:00 p.m.
CUPE 3906, Unit 1 has announced to its members that it will hold a ratification vote on the University's contract offer.
"We had asked CUPE to let members of the bargaining unit vote on the offer and we're pleased that it has decided to take this step," said Peter Smith, chair of the University's bargaining committee and associate vie-president, Academic. "We believe the University's best offer is both fair and equitable and we encourage all TAs and RAs to be informed and to participate in the vote."
The union informed members Wednesday night that the vote will begin Sunday night following a membership meeting at the Hamilton Convention Centre. The voting will continue Monday at the union's strike office from 10am to 5pm.
November 3, 2009 - 12:30 p.m.
Picket lines are back up on campus today as CUPE 3906 unit 1, which represents Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants, continues its strike. After some initial delays, traffic lineups did ease at University entrances.
Continue to check the Daily News for more information, or sign up to Twitter for instant updates.
November 2, 2009 - 9:00 p.m.
The first day of the strike by CUPE 3906 unit 1, Teaching and Research Assistants saw picket lines on campus, a mix of cancelled tutorials and tutorials that ran as scheduled, and more discussions between the University and the union.
Picket lines delayed many people getting into campus at the Sterling Street and Coote’s Drive entrances. Part way through the day the union changed the picket from a full strike picket to an information picket that gave vehicles clear access to campus. This was part of a university agreement with the union to go back to the table. While the two parties continued to meet late into the afternoon and the University has asked to meet again tomorrow, the union went back to a full picket line in the afternoon and the waiting lines for the rest of the day once again became quite lengthy. Thanks to everyone for their patience waiting to enter campus.
Public transit workers will not cross a picket line so buses have been re-routed off campus. The stops that had been determined by the bus companies have been modified. Please encourage your student to check the Daily News often so they don’t miss any updates.
A reminder that students who are unsure about their class schedules, tutorials, labs or have any other questions about course work or other academic issues should contact their instructors or the appropriate department.
A strike hotline was opened this afternoon. It will be staffed during the working day and a regularly updated recorded message is available after hours. The number is 905-525-9140, ext. 29999.
November 2, 2009 - 2:00 p.m.
Picket line changes
CUPE 3906, unit 1 agreed early Monday to modify its strike picket into an information picket which re-opened access to campus. While this change lasted for several hours, full picketing is once again in place at the Sterling and Coote's Drive entrances.
The change to the pickets earlier in the day was part of an agreement between the University and the union. Both parties agreed to meet and the union agreed there would only be information pickets until those discussions ended. The parties talked this morning and will meet again later this afternoon.
Vehicle lines were extensive this morning. Both parties have negotiated a Picketing Protocol that limits how long vehicles can be held but not all aspects of the plan were followed this morning.
More information is available on the CUPE Labour Relations site on the Daily News. Updates are also available via Twitter.
November 2, 2009 - 10:30 a.m.
Picket line changes
CUPE 3906, unit 1 has agreed to modify its strike picket into an information picket on Monday. The change is part of an agreement this morning between the University and the union. The union had invited the University to meet and the University's bargaining team had indicated Sunday night that it was willing to talk if no pickets were held. A compromise was reached this morning. Both parties will be meeting and the change to information pickets means that vehicles will not be delayed coming into campus.
More information is available on the CUPE Labour Relations site on the Daily News.
November 1, 2009 - 9:30 p.m.
Earlier this evening the University offered to meet with the union again Monday morning on the condition that it does not commence any strike action while discussions are ongoing. As of 9:00 Sunday night the union had not responded to the University's offer.
November 1, 2009 - 6:30 p.m.
The University will remain open and classes will continue during the strike by Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants. There will be impacts on many tutorials and labs.
Instructors will contact students if there are any changes in schedules. Students can also contact their instructor or department office for additional information. They are also being asked to monitor their mcmaster.ca email address for updated information. Information can also be found on the Daily News student update labour relations page. Our priority is to reduce the impact for students wherever possible.
A picketing protocol has now been agreed to by the University and the union. It provides for staging areas at the Sterling Street and Coote’s Drive entrances where vehicles will wait for no more than five minutes. There could still be long lines of vehicles waiting to get into the staging areas. Please review the protocol here. Hamilton police will be monitoring the picket areas. We thank everyone for their patience and help in ensuring that safety is maintained for those trying to enter campus and for those on the picket line.
Please encourage your student to leave enough time to get onto campus. Public transit will be available with drop offs at the campus perimeter for both the HSR and Go Transit. More information is available here.
If you would like instant updates, please sign up for the University’s Twitter updates. This parent site is also being regularly updated.
Please forward any questions to daily@mcmaster.ca
October 31, 2009 - 10:15 a.m.
Picket lines expected Monday morning
Dear parents,
Picket lines are expected at the University on Monday morning. CUPE has informed Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants who are members of the 3906, Unit 1 bargaining unit that they are going on strike.
The University and the union have been bargaining since June and a marathon session from this past Thursday to Saturday to try and reach a collective agreement ended with the union rejecting the University’s best offer. The union also rejected the University’s request that it take the offer to a vote.
The University will remain open and classes will continue. There will be impacts on many tutorials and labs.
Instructors will contact students if there are any changes in schedules. Students can also contact their instructor or department office for additional information. They are also being asked to monitor their mcmaster.ca email address for updated information. Information can also be found on the Daily News student update labour relations page. Our priority is to reduce the impact for students wherever possible.
Access to campus will be an issue particularly in the first few days of the strike. While students living in residence won’t have to cross the picket lines, those who come from off campus will be delayed. When there is a strike, the HSR and GO Transit will not come onto campus. Alternate stops close to campus have been determined and can be found on the Access to Campus guide.
Delays getting onto campus can be frustrating but we are asking everyone to please be patient to make sure everyone stays safe.
Services at the University will continue. Libraries are open, maintenance and cleaning will not be effected, food services will be operating as normal as will the Registrar’s office, counseling and support services and athletics. Please refer to the parents and student FAQ for more information that we hope you will find useful during the strike.
We will be providing regular updates directly to students and will also be providing updates to parents on this site. If you have any questions please direct them to daily@mcmaster.ca
You can also subscribe to our Twitter feed.
October 30, 2009 – 4:30 pm
The University continues to negotiate a renewed collective agreement with CUPE Local 3906, Unit 1.
The union, which represents Teaching Assistants and some Research Assistants will be in a legal strike position Oct. 31 at 12:01 a.m.
This afternoon, the University presented a new offer to the union. It includes a 30% increase in the University’s contribution to the union benefit plan and raises the hourly wage rates of every TA and RA.
Details of the offer are available here.
McMaster’s main priority is to provide the best quality education to your students. Should the union strike, we can expect pickets at campus entrances and delays entering and leaving the University. The University will remain open and classes will continue should the union decide to strike.
Information about the strike has been sent to all students via their McMaster e-mail account.
Talks are expected to continue through the evening.
The Daily News will provide updates as they are available.
We thank you for your patience and understanding.
October 28, 2009
The University continues bargaining with CUPE Local 3906, Unit 1 on Thursday and Friday.
Today, McMaster sent an update to all Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants. A copy of that message is here.
The University believes a deal is within reach. Significant progress has been made since talks began in June. These upcoming sessions will be the fifth and sixth days of talks involving the provincial conciliator. At every one of these sessions, the University has been focused on reaching a fair and sustainable agreement.
The union is in a legal strike position as of 12:01 am on October 31. A work stoppage will only happen if the union decides to strike. McMaster will not lock out TAs and RAs.
We’re also posting a new Frequently Asked Questions document for parents and students. It’s available here.
As talks continue tomorrow and Friday, The Daily News page and this web page will be updated.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we focus on getting the deal that is within reach.
October 27, 2009
The University has sent an e-mail to all students that includes current information about negotiations with CUPE Local 3906, Unit 1 which represents Teaching Assistants and some Research Assistants.
The e-mail also provides important information about steps your student should be taking this week.
The e-mail is available here.
McMaster has been meeting with the union since June and has been at the table with a provincial conciliator for every session he scheduled. Talks are set to continue October 29 and 30 and the University believes a deal is within reach.
Should the union make the decision to go on strike, McMaster will remain open and classes will continue as scheduled.
In the event of a strike, we’ll communicate directly with students via their McMaster e-mail account so it’s important that your student activates their account.
Information on how to do this is available at https://mugsi.mcmaster.ca
You can find updated information at:
October 26, 2009
On Friday, Oct. 23 McMaster sent an email update to all Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants. If your student is a TA or RA they received this update and may have mentioned it to you.
The email provides an overview of the University’s offer to CUPE Local 3906, Unit 1 which represents TAs and RAs. The offer includes pay increases of $1.30/hour for all TAS and RAs. It raises hourly rates to $39.30 for graduate TAs and RAs and $22.05 for undergraduate TAs.
The text of the full email is here.
The uncertainty of collective bargaining can be stressful for students and families. Providing a quality education to students is McMaster’s top priority and we remain focused on reaching an agreement.
The union is in a legal strike position as of October 31. A work stoppage will only happen if CUPE calls a strike. The University will not lock out TAs and RAs and will remain open should there be a strike.
McMaster’s bargaining team has met with the union and conciliator on many occasions since June. We have agreement on the majority of the new contract’s language. You can see the progress we’ve made by clicking here and reviewing the articles on which we have agreement.
The University believes a deal is within reach and is eager to return to bargaining on October 29 and 30 of this week. We’ll be communicating with students, parents and TAs and RAs as the week progresses.
You can keep up-to-date by checking back to the Daily News, the Parents and Students pages of the website and by subscribing to our Twitter feed.
McMaster’s current collective agreement with CUPE Local 3906 Unit 1 representing Teaching and Research Assistants expired on August 30, 2009.
The University began face-to-face negotiations with the union on June 30.
Background Information:
- There are approximately 3000 Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants on campus
- Teaching Assistants play important roles at the University and the goal is to recognize the value of that work while taking into consideration the significant short and long-term financial challenges McMaster faces
- The union represents Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants (who receive a Research Assistantship in lieu of a Teaching Assistantship) in their capacities as employees of the University and not as students
We will be keeping students informed of key developments as we continue to negotiate with CUPE. Please check McMaster’s Daily News for updates on negotiations.