Advocacy
Donations
Political Action Resources
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DONATION REQUESTS
Donations of >$200. Donations of up to $200 can be approved directly by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee reviews such requests quarterly (in early August, November, and February, and in late April, typically). To make a request, email the Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org.
Donations of $200>. Donations of more than $200 must be approved by the membership, either at a General Membership Meeting or the Annual General Meeting. To make a request, complete the Donation Request form. Please note that requests must be submitted at least nine (9) days prior to an upcoming GMM/AGM to be considered at that meeting.
Disaster-relief/Strike Donations (>$1,000). Donations of this kind can be approved directly by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee reviews such requests as needed. To make a request, email the Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org
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FUNDING AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS
Micro-Campaigns/Events (>$500). Campaign funds of up to $500 can be approved directly by the Executive Committee. To apply for funds, email a completed Campaign/Event Fund Application form to the Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org. Applications will be considered at the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting. Please note that applications should be submitted in time to be reviewed before expenses are incurred; the Executive Committee meets bi-weekly, so plan for a delay of up to 2 (two) weeks.
The Local has a budget line of $30,000 for socials. Member-proposed socials must be approved by the Vice-Chair and Executive Committee. If you would like to propose a social for your unit, email a completed Campaign/Event Fund Application form to the Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org and your Vice-Chair (vc1@cupe3902.org, vc3@cupe3902.org, vc5@cupe3902.org, vccolleges@cupe3902.org). Applications will be considered at the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting; the Executive Committee meets bi-weekly, so plan for a delay of up to 2 (two) weeks. Please note that whether or not your proposal can move ahead will depend on the current state of the budget and your Vice-Chairâs capacity to collaborate on the event.
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FUNDING AVAILABLE TO CAUCUSES/ACTION COMMITTEES
Meeting-related Expenses/Events (>$1,000/year). Meeting-related expenses of up to $1,000 must be approved by the respective caucus/action committee and the Executive Committee. To apply for funds, email both (1) a completed Campaign/Event Fund Application form and (2) meeting minutes approving the budget (note the date, attendance, budget, motion, and mover/seconder of motion) to the Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org. Applications will be considered at the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting. Please note that applications should be submitted in time to be reviewed before expenses are incurred; the Executive Committee meets bi-weekly, so plan for a delay of up to 2 (two) weeks.
Caucus/Action Committee Campaigns (>$2,500/year). Campaign funds of up to $2,500 must be approved by the respective caucus/action committee and the Executive Committee. To apply for funds, email both (1) a completed Campaign/Event Fund Application form and (2) meeting minutes approving the budget (note the date, attendance, budget, motion, and mover/seconder of motion) to the Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org. Applications will be considered at the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting. Please note that applications should be submitted in time to be reviewed before expenses are incurred; the Executive Committee meets bi-weekly, so plan for a delay of up to 2 (two) weeks.
Campaigns ($2,500>). Campaign funds of more than to $2,500 must be approved by the respective caucus/action committee, the Executive Committee, the membership, and, possibly, by CUPE National. To apply for funds, email both (1) a completed Campaign/Event Fund Application form and (2) meeting minutes approving the budget (note date, attendance, budget, motion, and mover/seconder of motion) to the Secretary-Treasurer at st@cupe3902.org. The Secretary-Treasurer will then set up a meeting to determine next steps to for the proposed campaign. If the proposed Campaign is large, then collaborative work with the Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Committee, and CUPE National will be required before bringing the campaign to the membership for consideration; in that case, another, more extensive campaign proposal form must be completed. Plan for a delay of 2 (two) months+, as large campaigns often must go to CUPE National for approval of cost-shared funds.
Local Caucuses
Political Caucuses
Action committeees are dedicated to a specific political or social-justice movement.
FLYING SQUAD
The Flying Squad was formed as a way for CUPE 3902 members to engage in direct action in support of striking/locked-out workers and labour/civil-society groups fighting for broader social, political and economic change. To get involved, go to our facebook page: facebook.com/UofTFlyingSquad or email the caucus chair, Caitlin Gowans, at caitlin.gowans@mail.utoronto.ca.
LABOUR CHOIR
The CUPE 3902 Labour Choir is a choir that shares the vocal history of the labour movement and offers space for singers and non-singers to socialize. To get involved, email the labour choirâs chair, Will Roelofs, at william.roelofs@mail.utoronto.ca.
UNGRADING CAUCUS
A group dedicated to the implementation and promotion of Ungrading practices at U of T. To get involved, email the Ungrading caucus chair, Dan Milway, at ungradingcaucus@cupe3902.org.
COORDINATION CAUCUS
The coordination caucus is a place to encourage further cooperation between the CUPE locals at UofT. To get involved, email the Coordination Caucus chair, Julian Nickel at julian.nickel@mail.utoronto.ca.
Equity-Seeking Caucuses
Caucuses are spaces for equity-seeking groups within the local to socialize and advocate for their unique interests as workers and members of the wider community.
QUEER CAUCUS
A group dedicated to creating a space for queer folks at UofT to socialize and thrive. To get involved, email the Queer Caucus chair, Lief Dubin, at lief.dubin@mail.utoronto.ca.
TRANS+ CAUCUS
The Trans+ Caucus is a political and social group for trans+ (in all its forms) 3902 members to foster community and materially support one other. To get involved, email the Trans+ Caucus chair, Petra Totten, at petra.totten@mail.utoronto.ca.
CASTE CAUCUS
The recently-formed Caste Caucus stands as a collective voice dedicated to challenging caste-based discrimination within our university and beyond. We aim to raise awareness, foster inclusivity, and advocate for marginalized communities facing caste oppression. To get involved, email the Caste Caucus chair, Shibi Laxman, at shibi.Kumaraperumal@mail.utoronto.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A local caucus is a group of CUPE 3902 workers who work together with a common issue, goal, concern, or passion in mind (as long as the caucus works towards the objectives of the Local, Article 3 of our Bylaws).They create tools and resources to address the issues or ideas that the caucus represents.
They also propose projects or actions that the caucus, or other groups within the Local (including the Local as a whole) may initiate.
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As of March 2023, we have three active Local Caucuses: the Flying Squad, the Labour Choir, and the Womenâs Caucus. You can read more about them and how to get involved above.
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If youâd like to join one of the existing caucuses (see the list above) email the caucus chair and gvp@cupe3902.org and ask to be put on their email list or added to their group chats. If you see any caucus events in our newsletter or socials, just come!
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You can propose any Local Caucus that you think works towards the objective of the Local (Article 3 of the Bylaws). If youâre unsure, you can email your GVP (gvp@cupe3902.org) and they can help you.
Weâve had a number of caucuses in the past. Here are some examples:
Boycott Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Caucus
Indigenous Solidarity Caucus
International Workersâ Caucus
Queer Caucus
Racialized Workersâ Caucus
Undergraduate Caucus
UTM Caucus
UTSC Caucus
Workers with Disabilities Caucus
Mental Health Caucus
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Youâll get support from officers and Local staff in setting up the caucus. When a caucus is operating, then your point person will be the General Vice-President (GVP).
Youâll also have to promote your caucus at Membership Meetings, Unit Councils, and in our Newsletter and on our Socials.
Financially, each local caucus is entitled to at least $2,500 per fiscal year (MayâApril) to use for the purpose of fulfilling its mandate.
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A caucus chair runs the caucus. They make sure that the caucus is fulfilling its mandate and doing the events or actions that theyâre supposed to do. Theyâre also a member of Local Council (the group of executive officers, lead stewards, and caucus chairs that discuss the strategic plan of the Local).
The caucus chair is elected at the first meeting of the caucus every fiscal year or whenever there is a vacancy. Anyone in the local can run as a caucus chair except the Executive Committee, Lead Stewards, or chairs of other caucuses.
They have to notify the Local of any events that they are organizing, so that the Local can properly advertise it to all members.
They have to make sure that accurate minutes of official caucus meetings are made, and that the funds provided to the caucus are properly spent.
They also have to provide a short report at the Annual General Meeting about the previous yearâs work.
They also receive an honorarium of 17.5 hours at the TA rate (as of March 2023 that was $833.50 for the year and prorated for service of less than one year).
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Email the President (president@cupe3902.org) and the GVP (gvp@cupe3902.org) letting them know that youâd like to create a caucus, this will give them the heads up and help you get ready for the motion at the membership meeting.
At the next available Membership Meeting (where all members of 3902 attend), you make a motion to strike (create) your caucus (âI move to strike the [insert name here] caucusâ). There, you can explain why youâd like to create the caucus and its purpose. If members agree that your caucus is a good idea. They will vote yes. If the vote was successful, you as the mover of the motion have to:
Hold the caucusâ first meeting within two months (60 days). You are entitled to get help from the Executive Committee and Staff in sending out emails, securing space etc. The GVP can also attend the first meeting to make sure everything is in order. You should:
Pick a date for the first meeting, something about 3 to 4 weeks after the Membership Meeting, so thereâs time to circulate it in newsletters, emails etc.
Notify the GVP and other officers and staff who are helping you about the date and place.
Personally reach out to colleagues who are 3902 members to get them to come to the first meeting.
Chair the first caucus meeting. Here is a link to a draft agenda.
After the first meeting. The newly elected caucus chair:
Emails the GVP (gvp@cupe3902.org), and President (president@cupe3902.org) the agenda and minutes and notifies the GVP and President that they are the newly elected caucus chair.
Email the CRS (crs@cupe3902.org) the minutes of the caucus meeting.
Congrats! The caucus is operating!
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In order to keep operating, at the Annual General Meeting of the Local (the AGM, usually in April), every caucus chair will need to make a motion to continue year-over-year operation of their caucus. If passed, then you have to hold your next meeting within 60 days of the AGM.This requirement is because the priorities of the Local change year-over-year and caucuses may not want to continue operating. So, this gives each caucus an opportunity to, first, think whether theyâd like to continue their work, and second, think about the year ahead at a meeting after the AGM.
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Email the President (president@cupe3902.org) and your GVP (gvp@cupe3902.org) if you have any questions.
Statements
Part of the job of the Localâs Executive Committee is to advocate, in any way they can, for the members of CUPE 3902 for better working conditions and inclusive, healthy communities. This work takes many forms, including campaigns, events, rallies, and sometimes public statements. On this page, members can locate, and read, statements released by the Executive on behalf of the Local.