News

CUPE local 3912 stands with the Dalhousie Faculty Association as Dalhousie University has locked them out starting Wednesday, August 20. It is abhorrent this has happened as DFA members were in the process of voting to ratify the proposed Collective Agreement! This is a first for a U15 University in Canada and we recognize this sets a dangerous precedence. We know just how vital the work of professors, instructors, librarians and professional counsellors is for ensuring Dalhousie runs. 

We emphatically support the DFA strike action and joined their rally on Friday, August 22. We commend the bravery and unity of DFA members and executives who have chosen to join your picket lines. We stand with the DFA and will join their picket lines. See this document here for locations. 

For ongoing updates from the DFA

• follow their Facebook page: Keep Dal Strong
• Follow their instagram: dalfacultyassoc
• Contact them at 2025.strike.dfa@gmail.com

CANCELLED

Because a tentative agreement was reached, these rallies are cancelled. 

 

Join CUPE tomorrow for demonstrations and info pickets at the following Liberal MP offices:

• 10:00 AM – Jessica Fancy-Landry’s Office, Liberal MP, Bridgewater, 517 King Street, Bridgewater, NS.
• 12:00 PM – Sean Fraser’s Office, Liberal MP, Central Nova, 2A-115 MacLean Street, New Glasgow, NS.
• 5:30 PM – Braedon Clark’s Office, Liberal MP, 201-2900 Highway 2, Fall River, NS.
• 5:30 PM – Mike Kelloway’s Office, Liberal MP, Sydney-Glace Bay, 7-850 Grand Lake Road, Sydney, NS.

 

We filed for Conciliation on July 21, 2025 as a final effort to get a fair and respectful contract for you and all our members. We have been trying to schedule a date and will keep you updated when that date is scheduled. The negotiating committee has been working hard for you, and now we need your support so we can negotiate with the most leverage.

The Dal unit is holding a strike vote starting Tuesday August 12th and is open for two weeks. All members with current contracts (either for the Summer or Fall term, with confirmation) are eligible to cast a ballot. You are eligible to vote if:

• you have a current summer contract
• signed a contract for Fall 2025
• or received an email confirming the class/hours you will teaching

If you have not received a ballot yet or would like one sent, please email voting@cupe3912.ca with proof of contract.

We urge you to reach out to your colleagues alerting them to vote!

Solidarity with the DFA

We stand in solidarity with the DFA!

If the DFA goes on strike/gets locked out by Dal:

• We strongly urge you to avoid scab work
  • i.e. do not pick up DFA work slack if you teach a course with one
  • you will not be paid more for taking on additional duties
• Do not apply for reposted DFA positions (that is in violation of our collective agreements!)
  • If you are unsure if the course is a DFA course, check the academic time table and see if someone is already assigned. If you are still not sure, please contact your VP for PTAs at cupe3912.vp.dal@gmail.com

We achieved the following proposals:

1. Improvements to the grievance process
   1. You now have 3 weeks instead of 15 days
2. Introduction of a pathway to a performance improvement plan for PTAs
3. Definition of a day
   1. It is now a work day as viewed by Dal
4. Online teaching is now protected for PTAs
   1. It was always assumed but is now included in our CA

THINGS WE ARE STILL BARGAINING TOWARDS: 

PTA Job Security

The top-ranked issue for PTAs was job security.

• Our Continuing Teaching Appointments proposal is designed to create basic stability for “full-time” part-time academics.
• It includes provisions for
  • research support,
  • office space and access to Office 365
  • participation in departmental consultations,
  • a right to be interviewed for one’s job,
  • and terms for position elimination, including compensation.

More CUPE Contracts under Article 14.12

Under article 14.12 a) and b), Dal is trying to raise the number of positions that do not need to be posted and do not follow precedence. We are looking to decrease the positions to

• 5 PTA assignments to post-docs or retirees per academic year instead of 10
• 6 credit hours PTA assignments to grad students instead of 12

Health Credit Line for PTAS and TAS

The Employer shall provide all employees with a Health Spending Account of $1000 to cover expenses related to dental work, purchase of prescription pharmaceuticals and inoculations, vision care including vision assessments and corrective lenses, and other therapies and treatments as prescribed by a medical practitioner.

Even if you already have health insurance, this is an extra bonus and is not burdensome for Dal. Dal has rejected this proposal.

TA Job Security

We have advocated to the employer that teaching assistants have increased job security with regards to their priority. This pertains to individuals who need to hold a TAship as part of their graduate certification being given priority. Additionally, we have proposed to remove 15.9b, where priority expires for non-student teaching assistants.

TA Proposals

Based on survey feedback, talking with members and previous grievances, one proposal the Negotiating Committee is advocating for is the removal of the Marker/Demonstrator positions. The Employer utilizes these to pay you less, and expect the same workload as a TA. This is a mis-categorization and those working in these roles should be given the wage, title and appreciation of the work.

WAGES

We were waiting on CAUT, the contract academic stipends, to see what other institutions are paying their sessionals before we agreed on our offer. The PTA wages were based on median salary for CAUT and used as entry for our current 2 tiers structure. We are aiming for the CAUT median. We did not even take into consideration the cost of living which is rising constantly in Halifax. We are aiming to be paid what this work is worth as seen across the country in numerous institutions.

Not surprisingly, the employer’s numbers are super low. Dal offered a 1.5% wage increase each year for PTAs and TAs. That is a pay cut and does not even account for inflation. During the last collective agreement the rate of inflation not accounted for was a 16.4% loss. Below are what we asked for and what Dal offered.

PTA wages based on 3hr credit minimum are below. The graph below is the bottom step and Dal offered the 1.5% increase for the top band as well.

TA wages:

The following reports are available to read, keeping you updated on what’s happening in your union across Canada.

Two full-time tenure track faculty positions have been posted on the MSVU website:

• Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education
• Lecturer or Assistant Professor, Department Business Administration and Tourism and Hospitality Management

Postering & Social Event with Justice For Workers on July 10

Join us this Thursday, July 10 to help put up posters along Quinpool starting at 6:00PM on the corner of Quinpool and Oxford and then for a social event afterwards at 7:00PM at the Oxford taproom. We will have posters for you to put up. We hope to see you there! Please RSVP to NSjustice4workers@outlook.com so they can make enough materials for sticking posters to surfaces!

Walk with us in the Halifax Pride Parade

We will be walking with CUPE NS in the parade on Saturday July 19! The parade starts at 12PM and the route is as follows: starting at the east end (roundabout) of Cogswell St, the parade will head east down Cogswell St, turning south onto Barrington St, west onto Spring Garden Rd, north onto South Park St, and end on Bell Rd/Ahern Ave, at the Garrison Grounds. Head to the Halifax Pride website to read more about accessibility!

Meet us at the hill above the oval (pictured below) by 11:30AM so we have time to find the CUPE NS people. You should wear comfortable walking shoes, bring sunscreen or hat for sun protection, and water to stay hydrated!

MSVU Pride BBQ

3912 members will be at the Annual MSVU Pride BBQ! It will be held on Thursday, July 24 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Rosaria Dining Hall. Please RSVP by emailing events@msvu.ca before the end of the day on Friday, July 18. Go to their website to learn more!

Other News

• We sent a letter of support and solidarity donation of $200 to CUPE Local 1750: Workers at the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, who were on strike for over a month, causing a backlog of workers compensation claims to amass. Their members recently voted Monday in support of a tentative collective agreement.

• We sent a letter of support and solidarity donation of $200 to CUPE Local 2073: Workers at the Canadian Hearing Service, who have been on strike since May.

• We sent a letter of support to Unifor Local 4457: Workers at DHL Express locked out after DHL Canada’s majority shareholder (Canada Post Corporation) tried to impose terms making many employees transactional contractors.

SMU Senate By-law now includes Part-time Faculty!

After years of perseverance by Karen Harper and other CUPE 3912 members (like Philip Bennett a few years ago, and Isabel Fearon and Erica Fischer more recently), the SMU Senate bylaws have finally been amended to allow Part-Time Faculty to run and vote for a seat on the Senate. 

Read more here!

CUPE NS 2025 Convention

Convention was held last week on Sunday May 25 to Wednesday May 28. Thank you to all 12 delegates who helped campaign for Christine, shared many great conversations, and spoke in support of resolutions! We would like to thank Lachlan Sheldrick, VP NSCAD, and Karen McDonald for attending in place of two other members who had other pressing commitments.  

Elections

Congratulations to Alan Linkletter, previously VP and from 8920, was elected as CUPE NS President. While we had hoped Christine would be elected, we are renewed and excited about the conversations we helped ignite and the connections we started building. Special shout out to Océanne Tardif and Ameilya Power from 4291 Adsum House, Jackie Rodler and Margot Nickerson from 4745, Sharon Hubley from 1867 and Kristin Welbourne from 5047 for joining us and making such a great campaign team!

Christine shares, “This campaign was about raising voices, building connections, and showing what bold, inclusive leadership can look like. I’m so proud of the team, the conversations, and other solidarity we sparked.”

Front (left to right): Jackie Rodler, Océanne Tardif, Lachlan Sheldrick, Ameilya Power, Christine Saulnier, Sophie J. Boardman, and Erica Fischer. 

Back (Left to right): Alec Stratford, Julie Quin, Rena Alexander, Karen McDonald, Aiden Farrant, Lauren McKenize, Larissa Atkison, Wens Amezcua, and Margot Nickerson. 

Congratulations to the folks elected to the following positions:

• Lauren McKenize, President, was elected as Alternate for Central VP
• Erica Fischer, VP PT SMU, new member of the Political Action Committee
• Larissa Atkison, VP PT Dal, new member of the Education Committee
• Sophie J. Boardman, Communications Officer, young worker member of the Global Justice Committee

The two resolutions we submitted passed with unanimous support from convention delegates. We are hopeful that CUPE NS will follow through with the support in the post-secondary sector and the Justice for Workers Campaign! Thank you to our delegates who spoke on the floor in support of these resolutions, and to Lachlan, Alec, Rena, and Océanne who spoke in solidarity and support of other resolutions presented!

Rally to Support the Home Care Sector

On Tuesday May 27 we all attended a rally in front of Sydney’s City Hall to support Home Care Workers. We were happy to stand in solidarity with these workers as they have been bargaining and without a contract for four years!

 

Samantha Williams, VP SMU TAs, Receives the Sean Foley CUPE NS Health and Safety Award!

We are so proud of Sam for being nominated and awarded for her contributions for the SMU TAs fighting for accessibility and safety for all her members. Aiden Farrant (pictured and photo taken from CUPE NS), Recording Secretary, received the award on her behalf as he was one of the members who nominated Sam.

We also pledged to support the CUPE NS Solidarity Assistance Fund by contributing  $500. All locals at the convention raised $14,500! We recognize how lucky we are to have been able to send 12 delegates and we hope our contribution will support smaller locals attending the convention next year!

Other News and Reminders

• allNovaScotia covers SMU in an article titled “Part-Time Faculty Win Say In SMU Senate”. In the article it states, McKenzie says it’s a big victory for SMU academic workers, particularly after recent cuts to course offerings impacted their jobs. 
• Apply for the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Bursaries. The NSFL offers six $1,000 bursaries to full-time students entering or returning to post-secondary studies. Applications must be received by the Federation office by Friday, July 4, 2025. Head to their website to fill out an application here.

Please send your story ideas, letters, articles, news, summaries, pictures and any relevant information for the Membership Spotlight to Sophie, Communications Officer, by July 1st, 2025

After years of perseverance by Karen Harper and other CUPE 3912 members (like Philip Bennett a few years ago, and Isabel Fearon and Erica Fischer more recently), the SMU Senate bylaws have finally been amended to allow Part-Time Faculty to run and vote for a seat on Senate.

We would like to thank CAUT for their support as well as Jason Grek-Martin (Senate Chair), Roby Austin (Chair of the Senate Bylaws Committee), Lucie Kocum and other members of the Senate Bylaws Committee for their work on these amendments. Having all members of the university represented on Senate is important to provide all perspectives in academic governance, particularly at a time when we need to work together to address issues raised by Bill 12.

We are waiting for the bylaws to be updated and published to be able to provide more details. We are also working to provide more information about academic governance to interested members. In the meantime, we can tell you that PT Faculty members who have taught at least ten courses (5 FCEs) and have taught at SMU in the last two academic years, are now eligible to vote and run for a seat on Senate. There’s currently a by-election to fill a vacancy. Nominations are closed, unfortunately, but voting is still open. If you are eligible you will be receiving a ballot from Shannon Morrison, the Secretary to Senate to vote.

We’re so excited to share that current CUPE NS President has endorsed our very own Christine Saulnier for President! Nan says, “I have known Christine for 10 years as an activist and an advocate for workers in Nova Scotia. You will find her at union and community events because at her core she is invested in workers. Christine has experience running an organization and has the political knowledge needed to hit the ground running. It is my pleasure to endorse Christine Saulnier CUPE 3912 for CUPE NS President.”