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Check out our latest newsletter, which includes:

• President’s Update
• Inflation During Pandemic and Bargaining Times
• Survey Says . . . On Contributing to Improvements in TA/Marker Working Conditions
• In Memoriam, Pat O’Neill

We had bargaining days at Dal and the Mount last week.

• At Dal we finished most of the discussion on non-financial items with the employer; however, we have reached an impasses for some of these items so they remain unresolved. We will table financial proposals at our next meeting on Jan. 7.
• At the Mount we had further discussion on most of the non-financial items, trying to see if there is some common ground.
• We resume bargaining at SMU and the Mount in the second week of January.

Our general meeting is Friday December 10 at 1 pm. It will include:

• Bargaining updates
• Bylaw amendments 
• By-election for VP SMU Language Centre
• Reports from executive and committees including Health and Safety
• Refreshments, for those attending in-person

This is a hybrid meeting. You can attend in person at Seton 407/409 at MSVU, or via zoom.

Please RSVP for the meeting with our Membership Officer, Kim Robinson by December 9 and indicate if you will attend virtually or in-person.  

Proof of vaccine required for in-person attendance.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative-Nova Scotia calculated the hourly wages a person needs to earn to pay for their basic needs, given the costs, available government supports and services, and norms of a specific region.

Considering how many hours you actually work to earn your salary, are you making a living wage?

We do not have bargaining dates until late November. We know that bargaining is taking a long time. There are several reasons for this:

• We are bargaining with three employers at the same time. Although last time we finished earlier at one university, we signed the collective agreement at the third university almost three years after the previous one expired.
• We have a lot of proposals because there are a lot of changes to be made to the collective agreement to achieve fair working conditions. It takes time to discuss these proposals and we are making progress.
• It is difficult to schedule times when 7-11 people are available. The schedule of our CUPE representative is particularly busy as whoever is in this position also assists other locals and is at other bargaining tables as well. Also note that we (union bargaining team) do not get time off for bargaining, as may be the case for other bargaining teams. However, we are setting several dates at all universities in the next few months hoping to wrap up soon. Also note that we are continually working on bargaining with extra meetings for the individual teams and all teams together.

Last week the focus for bargaining was on Dalhousie with a day and a half of bargaining. We discussed a lot of proposals including our common proposals, TA-specific proposals and a proposal to update hiring processes towards continuing appointments similar to the one we proposed at SMU. As at SMU, it looks like we are coming to an agreement for several proposals but are still negotiating some of the wording.

Our CUPE rep is not available most of November so our next dates at all three universities are in late November or December. We are booking dates well into January so we can make sure to reserve as much time as possible for bargaining.

We had three afternoon bargaining sessions at SMU in quick succession (Oct. 7, 12, 14).

The only thing we discussed is a set of proposals to update the hiring and appointment processes towards continuing appointments, one of our bargaining priorities. After a few exchanges it looked like we were coming to an agreement but we are still negotiating some of the wording.

Our CUPE rep is not available most of November so our next dates at all three universities are in late November or December. We are booking dates well into January so we can make sure to reserve as much time as possible for bargaining.

Upcoming bargaining sessions:

• November 30, 2021
• December 1, 2021

We had a ‘reset’ bargaining meeting where we discussed plans for returning to bargaining. It was the first time we met with the employer at the bargaining table since May 2021.

We are hopeful negotiations will proceed effectively and efficiently; however, we could only plan for dates in December 2021 due to our lack of availability. (It is difficult to schedule bargaining dates with 3 employers.)

Upcoming Bargaining Sessions:

• December 6, 2021
• December 8, 2021

October 1 is Treaty Day in Mi’kma’ki. The purpose of Treaty Day is to promote the public awareness of Mi’kmaq history and culture for all Nova Scotians, and to recognize the continued importance of these treaties. 

History

In 1986, Grand Chief of the Mi’kmaq nation, Donald Marshall Sr., invited all Mi’kmaw to “observe October 1, 1986, and every year thereafter as Treaty Day to commemorate the unique and special relationship that exists between the Mi’kmaq and her Majesty.” Since then, on this day, all people in Nova Scotia are invited to remember and reaffirm the treaties signed between Mi’kmaq People and the British Crown. 

Similarly, since 1993, October has been recognized as Mi’kmaq History Month. This is a month to celebrate Mi’kmaq culture and history. Across the provinces there are events that showcase this history.

Mi’kma’ki and the Treaties

CUPE 3912 members work in institutions that are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This land is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, which Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726, and were reaffirmed in subsequent treaties. 

The Treaties of Peace and Friendship did not deal with the surrender of land and resources, but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik title, and established rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. 

Exploring Treaties and Treaty Relationships

On Treaty Day and throughout Mi’kmaq History Month, take some time to learn about treaties, decolonization, and Mi’kmaq culture and heritage. As educators, we can incorporate this knowledge into our teaching. This year’s theme for Mi’kmaq History Month is “Exploring Treaties and Treaty Relationships.” 

More information on the subject:

• Treaty Day 
• Mi’kmaq History Month (vidoes, events, and resources)
• Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (Mi’kmaq history, culture, storytelling, and geography)
• Treaty Education Nova Scotia 
  • Website (resources)
  • Facebook Page (events and resources)
• Treaties of Peace and Friendship

We are all treaty people.