August 19, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Local-Wide Announcements
Save the Date: Back to Work BBQ!
CUPE 3902’s Back to Work BBQ will be held on Saturday, September 21st from 12-4pm on the University College Quad. You can also sign up to volunteer with set-up, take down, food distribution, activity stations, and more!
GMM Report – August 9, 2024
Your Local held a General Membership Meeting on August 9, 2024, to:
- conduct by-elections
- approve donation requests to support grassroots organizing across the GTA and beyond
- vote on a motion calling on the University Pension Plan to divest from companies and technologies complicit in Israeli occupation
+ more!
(Enjoyed the GMM playlist? View it here.)
By-Elections
CUPE 3902 held by-elections at the GMM to fill recently-vacated positions within the Local Council and Executive Committee. Here are the results:
- Claudia Vásquez-Caicedo (Unit 1, Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese) is your new General Vice-President.
- Andrey Gornostaev (Unit 5, Dept. of History) is your new Third Vice-President.
- Alex Tinius (Unit 5, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) is your new Unit 5 Lead Steward.
Congratulations to Claudia, Andrey, and Alex!
Donation Requests
CUPE 3902 dedicates a portion of its annual budget to donations for organizations, groups, causes, and campaigns that share the Local’s commitment to social justice, international solidarity, quality public education, and advancing the labour movement. At the GMM, you and your coworkers approved donations to the following organizations:
- GoBolt Drivers Union – $2500
- Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) – $4000
- CUPE Local 5524 – $3000
- Sudan Solidarity Collective – $5000
Read more about the Local’s Donations Policy.
University Pension Plan (UPP) Divestment Motion approved!
You and your coworkers passed the following motion, brought forth by the Local’s BDS Committee:
Motion to call on the University Pension Plan to divest from all companies supplying technologies, weapons, or weapons components to militaries, including the Israeli Defense Forces, as well as from all companies that operate in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, or that directly or indirectly support the construction and expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
This is an important step towards building solidarity with other workers and Locals across UofT that pay into the UPP, to ensure that our money is not tied up in companies and activities that do not align with the goals of our worker-led organization.
Unit 1 News
Teaching Assistants: Know your DDAH Rights!
What is a DDAH form?
DDAH stands for Description of Duties and Allocation of Hours. A DDAH form breaks down the duties you’ll be expected to perform in a course (e.g. grading, meetings, training, etc.) and how many hours are allotted to each duty.
When should I expect to receive my DDAH form?
Your hiring department must provide you with a DDAH form within 15 working days of receiving your letter of offer. Your supervisor also needs to meet with you to review your duties and allocation of hours before you begin carrying them out.
Know your rights:
- You are not required to accept a position or perform work prior to receipt of your DDAH form.
- Your signature on the description signifies only that you have received and reviewed the duties.
- The initial meeting to review your duties and allocation of hours must be included in the DDAH form and must be scheduled for not less than 1 hour.
- You are not expected to perform tasks that are not included in the DDAH form.
- The DDAH form must include turnaround times for marking/grading.
- DDAHs can be amended upon mutual agreement by you and your supervisor.
- Your TA hours for one course or section cannot be transferred to another course or section.
For additional information, please see Articles 16:07-12 and Appendix A of the Unit 1 Collective Agreement.
Student Workers Assistance Fund: Round 2 (Open Aug. 1–31, 2024)
The Student Workers Assistance Fund (SWAF) provides funding support to (A) students in the funded cohort (as defined by SGS) who receive less than $20,000 of funding a year (in addition to their funded tuition and fees) and (B) students not in the funded cohort who receive less than $15,000 of funding a year.
Eligibility:
Anyone who meets the following criteria is eligible to apply in Group A:
(a) You have secured at least 30 hours of Unit 1 work between September 1 and the time of application,
(b) You were a graduate student in the funded cohort in the application year, (c) You received less than $20,000 in funding in the application year (excluding funded tuition and fees).
Anyone who meets the following criteria is eligible to apply in Group B:
(a) You have secured at least 30 hours of Unit 1 work between September 1 and the time of application,
(b) You were a student in the 2023-24 academic year,
(c) You received less than $15,000 in funding (excluding T4 wages) in the application year OR you were unfunded in the application year.
Group A members include: graduate student members receiving a funding package below $20,000 (excluding their funded tuition and fees) for the academic year spanning September to August.
Group B members include: members who are no longer in the funded cohort, members who are no longer in the funded cohort but do receive some form of funding (i.e. DCA, OGS, internal/external grants) less than $15,000 total, partially-funded members who receive a funding package for only a portion of the academic year, and members who are otherwise unfunded. Group B includes members who are graduate students, undergraduate students, post-doctoral fellows, as well as the following student categories (professional masters’, performance masters’, other non-research and unfunded masters’, post-funded, never funded, and flex-time/part-time).
The 2023-24 SWAF is meant to address funding gaps in the 2023-24 academic year, not the upcoming 2024-25 school year.
The application form will only be visible to you if you have done 30 hours of Unit 1 work this year. You can access it through your Member Portal (“Forms”):
- If you already have a Member Portal account and your address has changed, make sure to update it (“My Profile” > “Make Changes”).
- If you do not have a CUPE number (found on the left side of your portal dashboard), you will need to apply and be approved for political membership to access the fund. The membership application form is also found under the “Forms” tab.
- If this is your first time accessing the portal, you’ll need to register (by pressing “sign up now”) before logging in, using the member ID from the email from your Vice-President 1 (vp1@cupe3902.org) titled “Student Workers Fund Open Now!”
For other issues/questions, please refer to this FAQ. Write to Marie at vp1@cupe3902.org if you have any additional questions about the SWAF. Email website@cupe3902.org if you’re having difficulty with the Member Portal or can’t find your member ID.
Childcare Financial Assistance Fund (Open Sept. 1–30, 2024)
The Childcare Financial Assistance Fund (CFAF) supports members who are parents and either incur:
- Childcare expenses (expenses related to paying a childcare provider for care of their child(ren) while a parent is at work or school), or
- Primary care expenses (defined as expenses associated with having the member, or a household or family member, provide primary care for one or more of their (step-)children in the eligible age range).
Eligibility:
- You secured at least 30 hours of Unit 1 work between September 1st, 2023, and August 31st, 2024.
- You have (step-)children in the eligible age range: from birth until the day they turn 16.
- You have eligible childcare expenses supported by receipts, and/or you have documentation showing that you, or one of your household or family members, provide primary care for one or more of your (step-)children in the eligible age range.
- Your childcare expenses are for childcare that took place between September 1st, 2023, and August 31st, 2024. Eligible expenses include anything that would qualify as a childcare expense for tax purposes.
Please refer to the Unit 1 CFAF webpage for more details on eligibility and expenses covered, and apply on the Member Portal when the fund opens on September 1st. The application deadline is September 30th.
Unit 1 health benefits submission claims deadlines
Health benefits coverage for the CUPE Top-Up Plan for the 2023-24 academic year will end on August 31, 2024. You are still able to submit Top-Up Plan and HCSA claims until October 30, However, receipts must be dated on or before August 31.
After August 31, 2024, claims can no longer be submitted online, but by mailing them to Green Shield. Members should contact GSC directly regarding claims forms and where to send them.
Plan year and activation:
The plan year is based on academic year. Your CUPE Top Up Plan will only be activated once you have completed the 30 hours required between September 1st to July 31st of the current academic year.
Who to contact:
If your Top Up Plan still remains inactive or if you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Employer directly who is administering the Top Up Plan. You can send an email to the UTA Benefits Specialist at benefits.help@utoronto.ca or call 416-978-2113.
Adding dependents to your Top-Up Plan:
Your dependent/s will automatically be added to the Top-Up Plan if they are enrolled in your (UTSU/GSU/PDF) base plan. You can send an email to the UTA Benefits Specialist if your dependent is not listed in the Top-Up Plan or to correct their personal information.
Base plan:
Any questions concerning your GSU (graduate student) base plan, should be directed to UTGSU at health@utgsu.ca. Information on the UTSU (undergraduate) base plan can be found here: UTSU Health and Dental. Information on the PDF (postdoc) base plan can be found here: Postdoc Benefit Plan.
Claims submission and benefits coverage:
If you need assistance submitting or setting up your GSC account under the Top-Up Plan, want to know if a specific drug or service is covered, please contact Green Shield Canada at 1-888-711-1119.
For reference:
Table of Maximums
Top-Up Plan FAQs
Unit 1 Equity Funds open year-round
A reminder that the following Unit 1 Equity Funds have rolling deadlines year-round:
- Black and Indigenous Workers Fund
- International Workers Legal Fund
- Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors Fund
- Trans Fund
Read more information about each Equity Fund and examples of eligible expenses on the fund pages linked from the Unit 1 Benefits webpage. You can apply for Equity Funds via the Member Portal.
Seeking Unit 1 Equity Funds Representatives
We’re seeking Unit 1 members to represent each of the Equity Funds for the Equity Funds Subcommittee, a joint committee between Unit 1 and Unit 7 representatives. To qualify, applicants must identify as members of the constituencies represented by the funds:
- Black and Indigenous Workers Fund
- International Workers Legal Fund
- Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors Fund
- Trans Fund
Read more information about each Equity Fund and examples of eligible expenses on the fund pages linked from the Unit 1 Benefits webpage.
To apply to serve on the Equity Funds Subcommittee, submit a brief statement of interest to your Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org, indicating which fund or funds you are applying to represent. The honorarium for each position is 13.13 hours/year at the SGS-II rate (currently $51.93/hour +4% vacation pay). We’ll keep running calls for each position in subsequent mailouts until they’ve been filled.
Fund Application FAQ
Have a question about funds? See if it’s answered on our Fund Application FAQ. You can send inquiries regarding funds not covered in the FAQ to benefits@cupe3902.org.
Unit 3 News
Unit 3 Meet and Greet – Early September
We’re planning a meet and greet for Unit 3 in early September! If you’re interested in attending, please complete a short poll to help us with the logistics. It will be a great chance to connect with fellow members. More details to come!
Unit 3 Advancement Workshop
This is just a reminder that if you are eligible and intend to apply for advancement to SL2, SL3, or WI2 this term, you need to submit a letter to your department chair/supervisor indicating your intent to initiate the process (re: the appropriate rank) by September 30th.
In the meantime, we are in the process of planning a workshop where we’ll go over the formalities of the advancement process, share some tips regarding teaching dossiers and teaching observation, and, of course, answer any questions you may have.
RSVP now!
Unit 3 Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) expense claim deadline
If you have enrolled yourself in the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), you have until August 31, 2024 to incur medical (including dental and vision) expenses in order to make claims towards any outstanding HCSA balance for the September 1, 2023–August 31, 2024 plan year.
All treatment must be sought by August 31st, but claims can be filed with Green Shield for expenses accrued by that point up until October 30, 2024.
More information on HCSA entitlements can be found on the Unit 3 Benefits page.
Unit 3 Fund for Conference and Teaching Expenses (Open Sept. 1–30, 2024)
The Unit 3 Fund is a pool of $140,000 to be disbursed to eligible members to offset expenses incurred for (a) attendance at an academic or pedagogical conference, or (b) to offset expenses related to your teaching. Individual disbursements will depend on the number of applicants and the overall need.
Expenses from September 1, 2023 to 31 August 31, 2024 are eligible. To submit claims, log in to the Member Portal and find the application under the Forms tab. Sign your Union card at the bottom of this mailout if you’re logging into the Member Portal for the first time and don’t have a Member ID #.
For support with registering or the application form, write to website@cupe3902.org.
Unit 3 Employee and Dependent Hardship Fund (Open year-round)
The Employee and Dependent Hardship Fund (EDHF) is intended to address urgent special circumstances resulting in financial hardship for Unit 3 bargaining unit employees and their dependents.
Administered wholly by CUPE 3902, the local has developed criteria and an application process for approval of claims and disbursement of funds. Furthermore, the Union will adjudicate and administer non-medical applications for assistance under the EDHF.
Read more information about the Unit 3 EDHF here.
The EDHF application form is accessible via the Member Portal.
Seeking Unit 3 EDHF Representatives
We’re seeking Unit 3 members to join the Employee and Dependent Hardship Fund (EDHF) Subcommittee. As a committee, you will be tasked with adjudicating applications to the fund.
To apply to serve on the EDHF Subcommittee, submit a brief statement of interest (5-8 sentences) to your Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org, indicating which why you’d be a good person to adjudicate applications of financial need from Unit 3 members.
The honorarium for each position is 13.13 hours/year at the SGS-II rate (currently $51.93/hour +4% vacation pay). We’ll keep running calls for each position in subsequent mailouts until they’ve been filled.
Fund Application FAQ
Have a question about funds? See if it’s answered on our Fund Application FAQ. You can send inquiries regarding funds not covered in the FAQ to benefits@cupe3902.org.
Unit 7 News
Childcare Financial Assistance Fund (Open Sept. 1–30, 2024)
The Childcare Financial Assistance Fund (CFAF) supports members who are parents and either incur:
- Childcare expenses (expenses related to paying a childcare provider for care of their child(ren) while a parent is at work or school), or
- Primary care expenses (defined as expenses associated with having the member, or a household or family member, provide primary care for one or more of their (step-)children in the eligible age range).
Eligibility:
- You secured at least 30 hours of Unit 7 work between September 1st, 2023, and August 31st, 2024.
- You have (step-)children in the eligible age range: from birth until the day they turn 16.
- You have eligible childcare expenses supported by receipts, and/or you have documentation showing that you, or one of your household or family members, provide primary care for one or more of your (step-)children in the eligible age range.
- Your childcare expenses are for childcare that took place between September 1st, 2023, and August 31st, 2024. Eligible expenses include anything that would qualify as a childcare expense for tax purposes.
Please refer to the Unit 7 CFAF webpage for more details on eligibility and expenses covered, and apply on the Member Portal when the fund opens on September 1st. The application deadline is September 30th.
Unit 7 health benefits submission claims deadlines
Health benefits coverage for the CUPE Top-Up Plan for the 2023-24 academic year will end on August 31, 2024. You are still able to submit Top-Up Plan and HCSA claims until October 30, However, receipts must be dated on or before August 31.
After August 31, 2024, claims can no longer be submitted online, but by mailing them to Green Shield. Members should contact GSC directly regarding claims forms and where to send them.
Plan year and activation:
The plan year is based on academic year. Your CUPE Top Up Plan will only be activated once you have completed the 30 hours required between September 1st to July 31st of the current academic year.
Who to contact:
If your Top Up Plan still remains inactive or if you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Employer directly who is administering the Top Up Plan. You can send an email to the UTA Benefits Specialist at benefits.help@utoronto.ca or call 416-978-2113.
Adding dependents to your Top-Up Plan:
Your dependent/s will automatically be added to the Top-Up Plan if they are enrolled in your (UTSU/GSU/PDF) base plan. You can send an email to the UTA Benefits Specialist if your dependent is not listed in the Top-Up Plan or to correct their personal information.
Base plan:
Any questions concerning your GSU (graduate student) base plan, should be directed to UTGSU at health@utgsu.ca. Information on the UTSU (undergraduate) base plan can be found here: UTSU Health and Dental. Information on the PDF (postdoc) base plan can be found here: Postdoc Benefit Plan.
Claims submission and benefits coverage:
If you need assistance submitting or setting up your GSC account under the Top-Up Plan, want to know if a specific drug or service is covered, please contact Green Shield Canada at 1-888-711-1119.
For reference:
Table of Maximums
Top-Up Plan FAQs
Unit 7 Equity Funds open year-round
A reminder that the following Unit 7 Equity Funds have rolling deadlines year-round:
- Black and Indigenous Workers Fund
- International Workers Legal Fund
- Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors Fund
- Trans Fund
Read more information about each Equity Fund and examples of eligible expenses on the fund pages linked from the Unit 7 Benefits webpage. You can apply for Equity Funds via the Member Portal.
Seeking Unit 7 Equity Funds Representatives
We’re seeking Unit 7 members to represent each of the Equity Funds for the Equity Funds Subcommittee, a joint committee between Unit 1 and Unit 7 representatives. To qualify, applicants must identify as members of the constituencies represented by the funds:
- Black and Indigenous Workers Fund
- International Workers Legal Fund
- Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors Fund
- Trans Fund
Read more information about each Equity Fund and examples of eligible expenses on the fund pages linked from the Unit 7 Benefits webpage.
To apply to serve on the Equity Funds Subcommittee, submit a brief statement of interest to your Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org, indicating which fund or funds you are applying to represent. The honorarium for each position is 13.13 hours/year at the SGS-II rate (currently $51.93/hour +4% vacation pay). We’ll keep running calls for each position in subsequent mailouts until they’ve been filled.
Fund Application FAQ
Have a question about funds? See if it’s answered on our Fund Application FAQ. You can send inquiries regarding funds not covered in the FAQ to benefits@cupe3902.org.
Get Involved!
Join the Bylaw and Policy Subcommittee
Your Local’s governance structure and policies are reviewed regularly (usually in the summer) by your Lead Stewards and President, who meet to consider and propose new amendments to your Bylaws and Policy Compendium. This year we’re reviewing our Local’s Bylaws. Any interested member can attend and contribute to the discussion, as well as submit proposals.
If you’re interested in taking part, email president@cupe3902.org.
Become a Joint Health and Safety Committee Representative
Interested in becoming a CUPE 3902 Joint Health & Safety Committee rep?
Fill out the JHSC rep application form now!
Duties include:
-Active advocacy for CUPE 3902 workers’ health and safety concerns
-Ensuring that the employer meets their legal obligations under the Occupational Health & Safety Act
-Attending regular JHSC meetings
-Conducting workplace health and safety inspections
This is a paid position!
Visit cupe3902.org/joinJHSC for additional info.
Join the Coordination Caucus
Do you want to get involved with developing structural connections between the CUPE Locals on campus? The CUPE 3902 Coordination Caucus is looking for members to work on cementing the relationships between the Locals established in last year’s coordinated bargaining campaign.
Reach out to Julian at julian.nickel@mail.utoronto.ca to get involved.
Union Service/Member Mobilizer Pool
Do you want to advance the working conditions of your workplace, support your co-workers in organizing efforts, and learn skills related to project management, social movements and union organizing? Are you logical, analytical, and skilled at problem-solving? Committed to fairness and social justice?
CUPE 3902 is building its organizational capacity by creating a pool of qualified candidates to support its bargaining and organizing campaigns. Your Local is currently looking for candidates for the following positions: member mobilizers and phone bankers.
Visit our union service info page to learn more about these roles as well as qualifications, pay, and application procedures.
Volunteer with your Local!
Get involved with the many ongoing campaigns at your Local!
If you want to build power with your coworkers, please complete the volunteer sign-up form and someone will follow up with you about upcoming opportunities.
Solidarity Actions + Events
Petition: Call on York University Administration to bargain in good faith with the York University Faculty Association
The York University Administration has been in a position to lock out the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) since last Friday August 2nd. The York University Graduate Students’ Association (YUGSA) and CUPE 3903 have organized a petition calling on the York administration to bargain in good faith with YUFA. Sign it to show your support!
Check out YUFA’s bargaining updates for more information.
Justice for Workers summer picnic – Saturday, August 24
It’s been a hot labour summer! Now, it’s time to relax, have fun, and reflect on our successes and struggles over the year. Join Justice For Workers for food, refreshments, activities, and most importantly, community building.
When: Saturday, August 24, 2024, 3:00-6:00pm
Where: Christie Pits Park fire pit
Don’t forget to RSVP!
Join CUPE 3902 at the Labour Day Parade
Mark your calendars for this year’s Annual Labour Day Parade on Monday, September 2, 2024. This year’s march celebrates how “Workers Shape Our Future”. Join your coworkers and comrades CUPE 3902 as we join the Toronto & York Region Labour Council contingent.
When: Monday, September 2, 2024 @ 9:30am SHARP
Where: Queen St. and University St.