Update: Collective bargaining

MSVU: CUPE 3912 ratified the new collective agreement with Mount St. Vincent university in two voting session (Sept 25 and 28). Now that our membership has ratified the agreement, the university’s board of governors will vote to ratify the agreement. Once the board ratifies the agreement, the union and the university will produce a new collective agreement (checking for typos, etc.). Once that is done, there will be an official signing where the university president and I, as CUPE president, will sign the collective agreement. The agreement then becomes official and all changes take effect. Those members entitled to retroactive back pay will receive it about a month after depending on where in the pay period the signing takes place.

Dalhousie: We continue to have negotiations with Dalhousie. We have not yet discussed financial issues as we are working on some language proposals that will improve working conditions for members and incorporate the new members at the former Agricultural College at Truro.

SMU: Negotiations with St. Mary’s have not yet started. The union is ready and have our proposals ready to go. We are just waiting to hear back from the university about dates.

Ratification votes for MSVU collective agreement

Next week CUPE 3912 members will vote on ratification of the new collective agreement. Any member who has taught at the Mount in the last three years, including people who are teaching for the first time this year, is eligible to vote.

Here is the ratification document you will be asked to vote on during ratification.

The document does not include new Letters of Understanding or the updated Stipend Schedule. These are still being reviewed and will be available at the meetings. It does include the percentage increase for the stipend and wage adjustments.

Ratification votes dates and times:

Monday, September 25, 5-9 p.m. Rosaria 401, Don MacNeil Room
or
Thursday, September 28, 1:30–6 p.m. Rosaria 105

We will also address any questions you may have at these meetings.

In solidarity,

Steve Cloutier
President, CUPE 3912

CUPE 3912 is hiring a Faculty Liaison!

Job Posting – Part-time Faculty Liaison

CUPE local 3912 has an opportunity for a motivated part-time faculty member who is interested in becoming more involved in the union that represents part-time faculty at Dalhousie, Mount St. Vincent, and St. Mary’s Universities. Applicants should be outgoing and be able to talk to small/medium size groups of people. No previous work experience with unions is required.

Working with, and reporting to, the local’s Executive Committee, the goals of this position are to contact, educate and mobilize CUPE 3912’s part-time faculty. The liaison will develop and use e-mail lists to notify members of events, bargaining updates, etc.

The liaison is an employee of CUPE 3912 and, as such, will be asked to sign a contract for a set period of time decided by the Executive. While the liaison does have the opportunity to work independently, the Executive sets the primary goals, terms of employment, and the evaluation process.

The liaison must be a part-time faculty member at Dalhousie, Mount St Vincent or St. Mary’s and a member in good standing of CUPE 3912. Any necessary training will be provided by CUPE.

While the time commitment will vary as issues dictate, the expected time commitment of the position is 10 hours per week.

The liaison will be responsible for the following:

1) Be responsible for co-ordinating effective communication between the Executive of CUPE 3912 and its membership.
2) Organize meetings with members either individually or in groups to provide information or obtain feedback.
3) Organize meetings between the vice-presidents (or other members of the Executive) and the membership.
4) Recruit stewards and collaborate with the vice-presidents to facilitate regular meetings of the stewards at the different universities.
5) In co-operation with the communications officer, develop educational and promotional materials such as ads, posters, and pamphlets and arrange for their distribution.
6) Provide a monthly written report to the Executive.
7) To meet with the President on a monthly basis to review activities of the previous month and to establish the priorities for the upcoming month.
8) Attend executive meetings at the discretion of the executive.
9) Attend CUPE 3912 general meetings.

Salary: Hourly rate will be $21.52.

Application deadline: 1 July 2017

Applications should be submitted to: cupe3912@dal.ca

CUPE 3912 is looking for a new Vice-President at Dalhousie, representing Teaching Assistants, Studley Campus.

Posted on 11 January 2017

Here is an opportunity to engage with other CUPE members and serve your Union! CUPE 3912 is looking for a new representative for the Teaching Assistants at Studley Campus, Dalhousie University. Under our new bylaws, this position is a two year term that will run until April 2019.

Please note that the Vice-President at Dalhousie, representing Teaching Assistants, Studley Campus is a member of the Executive of CUPE 3912 not an employee and is, therefore, an elected position.

Anyone interested in the position must be a Teaching Assistant at the Studley Campus of Dalhousie.

No experience is required. CUPE 3912 will provide any necessary training. The time commitment varies throughout the year, but an average would be about 5 hours a week.

The Vice-President, Dal, Studley TAs represents teaching assistants and lab instructors and others in treating issues at their work for Dalhousie.

• a central duty will be to receive communications from teaching assistants and others about concerns related to employment at Dalhousie
• a related duty is to serve on the Labour management committee at Dalhousie
• submitting written reports at each General Meeting and each Executive Meeting
• attend and participate in all discussions and decisions of the Executive Board of CUPE
• represent the interests of teaching assistants at Dalhousie Studley

As a member of the executive, Vice-President at Dalhousie, representing Teaching Assistants, Studley Campus receives an honorarium.

Members who are interested should contact the nominating committee by February 10, 2017 after which the Executive will set a date for the election.
Please contact the nominating committee at cupe3912@dal.ca (put “Studley rep” in the subject line) if you are interested or for more information.

We need a new treasurer!

POSTED ON January 11, 2017

Here’s an opportunity to engage with other CUPE members and serve your union! CUPE 3912 is looking for a new Treasurer. Under our new bylaws, this position is a two year term that will run until April 2019.

Please note that the Treasurer is a member of the Executive of CUPE 3912 not an employee and is, therefore, an elected position.

Anyone interested in the position must be a member in good standing of the union (a member who has taught one course at one of the three universities in the last three years or who is a TA at Dalhousie).

No experience is required. CUPE 3912 will provide any necessary training. The time commitment varies throughout the year, but an average would be about 5 hours a week.

The Treasurer takes care of financial matters including:

• bookkeeping using CUPE’s electronic ledger,
• depositing rebates,
• making payments,
• serving as liaison with the local’s and employers’ payroll services,
• participating in the investments committee and Executive meetings,
• corresponding with CUPE National in financial matters and
• ensuring that the local’s trustees finish the yearly audit.

As a member of the executive, the Treasurer receives an honorarium.

Members who are interested should contact the nominating committee by February 10, 2017 after which the Executive will set a date for the election.

Please contact the nominating committee at cupe3912@dal.ca (put “Treasurer” in the subject line) if you are interested or for more information.