Comms

Special Membership Meeting on Friday, January 27, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

On January 27, 2023 at 4:30 p.m., a Special Membership Meeting (SMM) will be held online to:

  • determine the number of delegates we send to the CUPE Women’s Conference held in March 2023;
  • electing delegates for the CUPE Women’s Conference held in March 2023; and
  • electing a delegate and an alternate for the CAUT Council meeting held in April 2023.

The SMM is being called at the request of at least 15 members, pursuant to Section 6(b) of CUPE 3912’s Bylaws.

All Delegates’ Expenses are Covered

Pursuant to Section 16 of CUPE 3912’s Bylaws, delegates to conventions and conferences are eligible for reimbursement for expenses (registration fee, accommodation, transportation, child  and dependent care) and a per diem allowance of $86.00 per day, as per Sections 14-15.

CUPE Women’s Conference

The first CUPE Women’s Conference, entitled CUPE Women: Leading, Organizing, Resisting will be held in Vancouver on March 12-15, 2023.

Join CUPE women from across the country for four days of connecting, supporting, and building women’s power in the union, in the workplace, and in our communities.Members will explore how to fight for gender equity and expand women’s leadership through bargaining, political action, and member mobilization. The conference will feature exciting speakers, panels, discussions, and skills-building workshops.

Registration is limited to women and gender diverse people who feel comfortable in a space centered on women’s issues, experiences, and identities.

CAUT Council Meeting

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is the national voice for academic staff representing 72,000 teachers, librarians, researchers, general staff and other academic professionals at some 125 universities and colleges across the country. CAUT is an outspoken defender of academic freedom and works actively in the public interest to improve the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education in Canada.

CAUT fights for fair working conditions, compensation and benefits that foster quality teaching and innovative research.

CUPE 3912 is a member of CAUT, which allows us to send a delegate and an alternate to CAUT Council meetings held semi-annually.

Nomination of Delegates

Nominations of delegates will take place at the SMM. If you would like to be nominated in your absence, please forward to us a brief email before the meeting, confirming that you agree to be nominated.

RSVP to Receive Zoom Link and Agenda

Please RSVP to Kim Robinson, our Membership Officer, to receive a Zoom Link and Agenda.

SMU Information Session on Tentative Collective Agreement

On Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 7 p.m. we will be holding an online information session about the SMU Tentative Collective Agreement. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that all your questions are fully answered before a ratification vote is held.

We anticipate being able to circulate the proposed changes to the Collective Agreement as well as a Zoom link by Saturday, January 21, 2023.

The ratification vote will take place online, using Simply Voting, on January 25-27, 2023. You will be receiving an email with a unique link to cast your vote.

We look forward to seeing you at the Information Session on Tuesday.

Retroactive Pay at Dalhousie

If you worked for Dalhousie between September 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022, you are owed retroactive pay under the new Collective Agreement.

If you were working at Dalhousie in Fall 2022, you will receive retroactive pay automatically.

If you were not working at Dalhousie in Fall 2022, you must complete and submit a retroactive pay request form, as well as update your direct deposit information with Dalhousie.

Dalhousie is supposed to notify you about eligibility to retroactive pay. You have sixty (60) days to complete the forms from the time you receive a notification from Dalhousie.

We recommend that you complete and submit the necessary forms as soon as possible, even if you have not received a notification yet.

Completed forms should be sent to: Academic.Staff.Relations@dal.ca

Special Membership Meeting on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 7 p.m.

On January 5, 2023 at 7 p.m., a Special Membership Meeting (SMM) will be held online to:

  • establish terms of reference for strike committees at MSVU and SMU;
  • elect members for strike committees at MSVU and SMU; and
  • vote(s) on whether to accept TAs and additional part-time academic employees at various academic institutions as CUPE 3912 members.

The SMM is being called at the request of the Executive Board, which passed a motion to that effect on December 22, 2022.

Section 6(b) of CUPE 3912’s Bylaws states that:

No business shall be transacted at the special meeting other than that for which the meeting is called and notice given.

RSVP to Receive Zoom Link and Agenda

Please RSVP to Kim Robinson, our Membership Officer, to receive a Zoom Link and Agenda.

CUPE 3912 SMU Membership Votes for Strong Strike Mandate

Build the Resistence (CUPE)

After two days of voting with an exceptional participation of 86.8% of CUPE 3912 eligible members at Saint Mary’s University (SMU), an overwhelming majority of 91.8% voted in favour of a strike mandate.

In the coming weeks, we will survey SMU members as to what might be an acceptable collective agreement, and will be establishing a Strike Committee at SMU.

On January 10, 2023, CUPE 3912’s Negotiating Committee at SMU will be meeting with the Administration’s Negotiating Team and a conciliator appointed by the Nova Scotia Department of Labour to negotiate a fair deal.

Thanks to the strong strike mandate at SMU, the upcoming negotiations will be influenced by the knowledge that we can call a strike at a very short notice in Winter 2023.

SMU: Strike Vote and Q&A Sessions

Strike Ballot

We reached a critical point in bargaining. SMU’s Administration refuses to give us even a marginally acceptable deal. Their wage offer (0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, and 1%) does not even keep up with inflation, never mind closing the gap with other undergraduate universities in Atlantic Canada.

Earlier this month, CUPE 3912 members at Dalhousie secured more than 23% wage increase for entry-level part-time instructors over the duration of the 2020-2024 Collective Agreement.

On December 1-2, 2022, we are holding an online strike vote to send SMU’s Administration a clear message: CUPE 3912 members at SMU also deserve better wages and more respect. The vote will be by secret ballot. We will be using SimplyVoting, a web-based online voting system for secure voting and certified results. Voting will start at 00:05 on December 1, 2022 and will end at 23:55 on December 2, 2022.

A strong Yes vote will give us a strong bargaining position at conciliation on January 10, 2023. On this date, the Negotiating Committee and the Administration’s Team will meet with a conciliator appointed by the NS Labour Board to negotiate a fair deal.

Strike Vote

A strike vote is the process for members to decide whether to authorize the Negotiating Committee to call a strike if SMU’s Administration refuses to agree to a fair collective agreement.

Voting Yes is the best way to avoid a strike. A strong Yes vote shows SMU’s Administration that we are serious about our demands for fair working conditions, and we are unified and willing to take action to protect our rights, if necessary. For example, last week, Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association reached a tentative agreement and averted a strike by securing a strong strike mandate, with 95% of members voting Yes.

Under Nova Scotia legislation, we need more than 50% of the part-time instructors teaching this Fall at SMU to vote Yes to get a strike mandate. Members who do not vote are counted as voting No. Please consider supporting the collective effort by voting Yes even if you are not teaching in the Winter term.

The more members vote Yes on a strike vote, the more likely SMU’s Administration is to agree to a fair collective agreement, and the less likely that we actually have to go on strike to protect our rights.

Strike Vote Q&A Sessions

In person (drop-in)

  • Tuesday, November 29, 2022
  • 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m, SB255 (Sobey Building)

Online

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Q&A sessions. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to us or visit our Strike Vote FAQ.

Week 4 Dalhousie Strike Update

All work done by CUPE 3912 members should stop for the length of the strike. If you continue to work, you will not be paid.

Bargaining Update

Due to all of our efforts, Dalhousie’s Administration returned to the bargaining table with a better offer, but one that did not meet all of our demands. For details visit our Bargaining Updates page.

Let’s keep up the pressure by picketing even harder to support our Negotiating Committee before and during their bargaining meetings.

Special Membership Meeting

6:30 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2022

The meeting will be hybrid. You may attend either in-person at the DSU Council Chambers, on the 2nd floor of the SUB or via Zoom (check your email to RSVP).

Picketing Plan

November 7 – 10, 2022

Monday (Nov. 7)
Tuesday (Nov. 8)
Wednesday (Nov. 9)
Thursday (Nov. 10)

Picketing has reduced hours (10 AM – 4 PM) for reading week. No picketing on Remembrance Day.

Anyone can join, no prior signup required. Just show up, go to the tent to receive information, buttons, and a sign, and join the picket line. If you have an active contract, sign in and sign out on the timesheets at the tent to ensure you get strike pay. While everyone is welcome at any time, we encourage people to sign-up for our strike schedule. Please sign-up here:

Sign Up for Strike Duties

For those who cannot perform strike duties in person due to living far away from Halifax or having specific accommodation needs (immunocompromised or other), please contact DalRemoteDuties@cupe3912.ca.

Other Strike-Related Information

Strike Pay
  • Our picketing schedule is Monday-Friday, but strike pay is recorded from Wednesday-Tuesday because our strike started on a Wednesday. You will only get paid for at most 20 hours of strike duties with a Wednesday-Tuesday week. Strike pay cheques become available on the following Friday. Please visit the Strike HQ in the SUB to receive your cheque (remote members will have their cheques mailed).

    Further detail on the development of the hardship fund will be available at the Special Membership Meeting.

Contact

Week 3 Dalhousie Strike Update

All work done by CUPE 3912 members should stop for the length of the strike. If you continue to work, you will not be paid.

Bargaining Update

Our strike is effective. After more than a week of our strike, Dalhousie’s Administration has agreed to return to the bargaining table on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. For details visit our Bargaining Updates page.

Let’s keep up the pressure by picketing even harder to support our Negotiating Committee before and during their bargaining meetings.

Picketing Plan

October 31st – November 4th, 2022

Monday (Oct. 31)
  • Studley Quad (Studley)
  • SPECIAL EVENT: Student Walkout @ 12 PM (feel free to wear a costume)
Tuesday (Nov. 1)
Wednesday (Nov. 2)
Thursday (Nov. 3)
Friday (Nov. 4)

Anyone can join, no prior signup required. Just show up, go to the tent to receive information, buttons, and a sign, and join the picket line. If you have an active contract, sign in and sign out on the timesheets at the tent to ensure you get strike pay. While everyone is welcome at any time, we encourage people to sign-up for our strike schedule. Please sign-up here:

Sign Up for Strike Duties

Sign Up for Reading Week (Reduced Hours)

For those who cannot perform strike duties in person due to living far away from Halifax or having specific accommodation needs (immunocompromised or other), please contact DalRemoteDuties@cupe3912.ca.

Other Strike-Related Information

Strike Pay
  • Our picketing schedule is Monday-Friday, but strike pay is recorded from Wednesday-Tuesday because our strike started on a Wednesday. You will only get paid for at most 20 hours of strike duties with a Wednesday-Tuesday week. Strike pay cheques become available on the following Friday. Please visit the Strike HQ in the SUB to receive your cheque (remote members will have their cheques mailed).

    The hardship fund is in development; more information is coming soon.

Contact

We Are On Strike!

As of this morning, we are on strike. All work done by CUPE 3912 members should stop for the length of the strike. If you continue to work, you will not be paid.

Picketing Plan

October 19-21, 2022

Picketing Location: McCain Building (and surrounding areas)
  • Members are strongly encouraged to picket as many hours as they can. The union can pay up to $180 for the 3 days (12 hours).
Sign-Up Location
  • Sign-in/out takes place in the tent on the green space between the Marion McCain Building and the SUB.
Who
  • Any member can join us, no prior signup required. Just show up, sign in, and join the picket line.
What to Do
  • Go to the tent to receive information, pick up buttons and a sign, and sign in on the time sheets.

Following Weeks

Pick Your Schedule
  • Enter the hours you will be picketing.

Sign Up for Strike Duties

Sign-Up Location
  • You will receive an email with the location of the picket line you are assigned to at least a day before.
Who
  • Anyone can show up, the more the better, however we encourage people to sign up for the times you selected on the form.
What to Do
  • Go to your picket captain and sign-in when you show up. They will record your name and sign-in time. When you are finished, go back to your picket captain to sign out to ensure you get paid.

Other Strike-Related Information

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Most answers to strike-related questions can be found in  the Strike FAQ. Please check the material in the posts and FAQs before emailing us to improve response times.
  • If you cannot find the answer to your questions here, please email one of the VPs or drop in at Strike HQ in the SUB (Boardroom B, second floor).
Negotiations Update 
  • The last set of negotiations took place on October 17 and 18, 2022, and the Dalhousie Administration walked away from the table. Their final offer was much lower than what our surveys showed that our membership would accept. They also refused to offer a four year agreement as is standard for academic collective agreements.
  • These are the increases the Dalhousie Administration has offered over three years:
    • PTAs 12.28%, 11.43%, and 11.09% depending on the tier
    • Teaching Assistants 17.69%
    • Markers/Demonstrators 30.40%
  • Our offer, covering four years (2020-2023), asked for:
    • PTAs 17.54%
    • Teaching Assistants 27.33%
    • Markers/Demonstrators designation to be eliminated to prevent duty creep.
Hardship 
  • Organization of the hardship fund is in process; more information to come shortly.
Accessibility
  • For those who need accommodations due to a disability or alternate strike duties due to distance, please contact DalRemoteDuties@cupe3912.ca.
Contact
  • For emergencies which cannot be handled by picket captains, or to discuss accommodations in person, check in with the team at Strike HQ located in Boardroom B, on the second floor in the Student Union Building.
  • For media, please reach out to our Communications Officer, Gábor Lukács, at communications@cupe3912.ca, or our Outreach Coordinator, David Banoub, at outreach@cupe3912.ca.
  • For other matters, contact us at office@cupe3912.ca.

We Start Striking on October 19, 2022

Build the Resistence (CUPE)

Due to the Employer’s refusal to offer us fair wages and working conditions, we have decided to call a strike and stop working at Dalhousie on:

October 19, 2022

This decision was not made lightly. We have made every effort to avert the strike, holding numerous events to raise awareness that many of you attended, but the Employers’ offers have not significantly improved.

We consulted among ourselves at all levels, from membership surveys, through Q&A sessions, and discussions among the Strike Committee and Executive Board members. Even then, we continued to negotiate in the hopes that we can avoid a work stoppage; however, the Employer’s latest offer leaves us no choice.

We are still hoping not to have to go on strike, but if the Employer continues to disregard our attempts to meet the cost of living in Halifax, we will stop working.

If this happens, we will be picketing starting the morning of the 19th. If you want to earn strike pay, it is more important than ever to sign up for hours and join us on the line!

Sign Up for Strike Duties