Meet Your U7 Lead Steward and VP2 Candidates!
Nominations for Officer positions for the 2025-26 term closed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 28, 2025 and the positions of Lead Steward, Unit 7 and Second Vice-President (VP2) were contested thus will proceed to an election.
Info and how to vote after the statements below.
Here are the candidates and their statements:
Lead Steward, Unit 7
Alexander Vesuna
My name is Alexander Vesuna, and I am a second year PhD student in the CTL Department. I have held numerous positions representing Unit 7 workers such as the CTL’s department steward, a member of the Unit 7 Bargaining committee, and a Unit 7-member mobilizer. In these roles I have met with members to hear their concerns, provide information regarding things such as health benefits or their rights as workers and played a key role in planning the campaign for bargaining our collective agreement. Throughout the most recent campaign, I worked to build meaningful relationships between the local and membership. I helped develop our collective power through speaking with members to understand their biggest issues as graduate assistants and to ensure that their needs were always at the forefront of our negotiations at the table. I am also one of the co-founders of CUPE 3902 Mutual Aid Caucus, which is working towards materially supporting workers across campus and community across the GTA through helping develop resource maps, a community fridge and library, teach-ins, skill sharing workshops, such as harm reduction, and helping develop infrastructures of care across the city. Along with my organizing experience at OISE, I have experience serving and building community across the GTA through my involvement in community organizing where I have helped plan and participated in protests, direct actions, teach-ins and other community events.
A key aspect of organizing is nurturing strong relationships between people, and I hope if elected as the Lead Steward of Unit 7 to build these long-lasting relationships and develop our community and our local’s power. I have dedicated a large amount of my time to be in service to communities inside and outside of OISE, to be in service to my colleagues and I would like to continue this service in the Lead Steward position for Unit 7. I am driven by a genuine desire to improve the working conditions for my colleagues and make OISE a more accessible, accepting and equitable place.
As the Lead Steward, I will continue to center relationship building and the needs of our members in various ways such as monthly socials, town halls, Know Your Rights workshops. I will also work to protect members’ rights to freedom of speech and right to protest the ongoing genocide in Gaza. I am passionate about social justice, and I will work to make OISE a more inclusive place for all folx and fight against the rise of transphobia, xenophobia, anti-Black, anti-Indigenous and anti-Palestinian racism. I believe in letting the people, our members, take the lead and as Lead Steward I would act according to our members’ needs and desires. OISE is seen as a world-class institution, but a world-class institution requires world-class workers, and I will work to make sure you are treated as such. In my years to come at OISE, I want to continue to protect your rights and build our collective power as workers because as we know the workers united will never be defeated!
Conflict of interest statement: I have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Kanza Tariq
I am thrilled to put forward my candidacy for the Unit 7 Lead Steward position, building on years of dedication to CUPE 3902 and the Graduate Assistant community at OISE. Since first stepping into union work in 2021 as the CTL Departmental Steward, and progressing to Lead Stewardship in 2023, I have been deeply committed to strengthening worker representation, building solidarity, and ensuring that members feel empowered, informed, and heard.
I have made accessible and proactive communication a priority—whether by setting up digital channels, such as WhatsApp chats, for Unit 7 members to foster support networks, holding individual meetings in person and online to help struggling colleagues navigate challenges, or organizing and leading Graduate Assistant orientations, info sessions, and workshops that equip members with a solid understanding of their rights.
2024 was a year of incredible progress! We transformed our steward network—starting with just one Departmental Steward and ending with four passionate advocates. Additionally, our efforts to strengthen ties with the OISE GSA and Departmental SAs has led to greater collaboration and solidarity among student workers, proving that when we stand together, we are unstoppable!
Beyond stewardship, I have worked behind the scenes as part of two Bargaining Support Committees (in 2021 and 2024), helping rally members, crafting impactful outreach strategies, and ensuring our Bargaining Teams had the support they needed during contract negotiations. Whether it was calling, emailing, or texting members to take part in surveys, contributing to bargaining bulletins, designing posters to spread awareness, or mobilizing workers to take part in rallies, I have dedicated my time and energy to ensuring our collective voice is strong and unshakable.
And I’m just getting started! In the coming year, I am determined to keep the momentum going by working to ensure Graduate Assistants are supported in their roles and actively engaged in union efforts. I plan to establish regular office hours, creating an open space where members can bring forward concerns and seek guidance. I will deepen relationships with other associations at OISE, and beyond, to strengthen cross department, association and unit solidarity. I will also support the hosting of specialized workshops that directly address the needs of Graduate Assistants.
Unit 7 thrives because of its members, and I am eager to continue building a workplace where every voice is valued, and every worker feels empowered. Together, we can make Unit 7 and CUPE 3902 stronger than ever!
Conflict of interest statement: I, Ana Kanza Tariq, declare that to the best of my knowledge I have no conflicts of interest in relation to the Unit 7 Lead Steward role at CUPE 3902.
Vice-President 2
David Cobo
Hi everyone! My name is David Cobo, and I'm excited to be running for CUPE 3902 Vice President for Unit 3. I'm running because I believe we can and should do better. Better communication, better connection, and better representation for every Teaching Assistant and Instructional Assistant at U of T.
When I first started as a TA, I quickly realized just how many valuable resources our union provides—resources that most of us aren't even aware of. For example, have you heard about our Health Care Spending Account (HSCA), CUPE 3902 Reimbursement Fund, or Employee and Dependent Hardship Fund (EDHF)? Many of us haven't, and it's not because we don't need these supports; it's simply because the information isn't effectively reaching us all. I want to bridge this gap by enhancing our union's outreach and ensuring everyone has easy access to these vital resources.
My primary goal is to guarantee that every member knows exactly what benefits they have and exactly how to access them. Our union has fought diligently to secure these resources, and we should maximize their usage to support our membership fully!
My past experiences have uniquely prepared me for this role. As an undergraduate, I served as Vice President of the Teaching and Education Studies Association (TESA), where I prioritized community-building, organized engaging events, and significantly improved outreach efforts, ultimately growing our membership base. Now, as a Master's student in Applied Mathematics and an Instructional Assistant at UTM, I've developed strong research capabilities, refined my communication skills, and learned how to present complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
If elected, here's my promise:
Significantly improve how our union communicates important information about your benefits and rights, ensuring clarity and accessibility.
Keep advocating for increased professional development resources, such as constructive and formative evaluations and additional skill-building opportunities, enhancing your future career prospects and strengthening your experiences.
Host frequent, engaging social events across all campuses to build stronger connections, foster a true sense of community, and amplify networking opportunities within our membership.
Actively seek your input and ensure your voices, ideas, and concerns are consistently heard and represented in our union’s decision-making processes.
Collaborate closely with union leadership and key faculty members to advocate for improved working conditions and more comprehensive supports.
I deeply value transparency, equity, and collaboration. To me, equity means genuinely understanding and responding to each individual's unique needs and experiences. I firmly believe the best way to achieve meaningful progress is by listening carefully, connecting personally, and keeping your interests at the heart of our collective actions. Together, let's create a CUPE 3902 that's accessible, supportive, vibrant, and truly reflective of all our members.
Thank you so much for your support—I’m looking forward to working alongside you to make our union even stronger!
Conflict of interest statement: I, David Cobo, am currently employed as a Unit 3 Instructional Assistant based at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). I have no other affiliations or positions that would constitute a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of Vice President, Unit 3.
Farhana Islam
Hi, I am Farhana, I am your current Second Vice-President for CUPE 3902 representing Unit 3. I am a Sessional Instructional Assistant at the Department of Biology at the Mississauga campus, as well as Department of Biological Sciences at the Scarborough campus.
During my current tenure as the Second Vice-President (i.e., VP2), I served on the bargaining committee representing Unit 3 members at the bargaining table. Together, we fought for wage increases, moving towards a defined benefits plan, increased job security across positions, and more professional development opportunities and funds for Unit 3 members. After months of negotiations and campaigning, WE WON and secured a tentative agreement on March 31st, 2025. However, a tentative agreement is not the finish line. There is much more work to be done. As your VP2, I will work with our union to implement the new Collective Agreement (CA) once ratified and continue to support members under the new CA. I will also continue organizing workshops throughout the year that help members advance to the next stage of their careers, including advancement and teaching dossier workshops, and hold information sessions on accessing current health benefits (HCSA).
In the past, between 2019 to 2020, at the start and height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I also served as CUPE 3902’s Internal Liaison Officer (ILO), which involved overseeing the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) portfolio. I organized and provided training to the Local’s JHSC representatives to advocate for minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for students, workers, and their families during a time campuses were reopening and there was pressure from the employer to return to in person work. I further engaged with the Employer on the Local’s positions on workplace health and safety and negotiated on the JHSC Terms of Reference.
My other roles within the university community include serving as the President of the Tenant’s Association at the University Family Housing (UFH) between 2022 to 2023 (and previously, Vice-President between 2021 to 2022) where I advocated on behalf of student families on housing-related issues. As President of the Race and Ethnicity Caucus (REC) of the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU) from 2018 to 2020, and previously as Vice-President from 2016 to 2018, I organized workshops and campaigns focused on more accessible mental health services that meets the needs of racialized students on campus.
This is an important time for Unit 3 as we ratify our tentative Collective Agreement in the coming days and move towards its implementation. I am confident that my experiences as the current VP2, as well as my experiences in organizing, advocacy, and community building equips me to serve effectively again as Second Vice President.
Conflict of interest statement: I have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Election Date: The election for VP2 and Lead Steward, Unit 7, will take place on April 11, 2025 and polls will be open between 9:00am and 7:00pm.
How to Vote: Voting will take place by electronic ballot using SimplyVoting. A ballot will be sent automatically by email to all eligible voters at 9:00am on Friday, April 11, 2025. It is possible that this email arrives in your “other”, “spam” or “junk” folder so please check these folders if you do not receive your ballot in your main inbox.
Voter Eligibility: Members registered as political members by April 10, 2025 at 6:00pm will automatically receive a ballot. If you do not receive a ballot and believe that you should have received one then please email office@cupe3902.org by 1:00pm on April 11, 2025.
You should have political membership if you have done bargaining unit work within the past 12 months and you have signed your Union card.
If you’re not sure about this, log into the Member Portal and check that the field labeled “CUPE No.” has a value.
If it does not, then sign your Union card using your Member ID and the form linked at the bottom of this email. For support, email website@cupe3902.org.
