Hello, CUPE 5524 (Academic Workers at UW)! We are emailing to communicate our bargaining updates with the University.
On December 18 and 19, the CUPE 5524 Bargaining Committee for Unit 0 (Sessional Instructors) met again with the employer to continue negotiating a collective agreement between the union local and the university. Several Bargaining Committee members from Unit 1 (TAs and RAs) also attended, as the items we were negotiating continue to be relevant to both groups of employees.
We have agreed to two more articles:
- Management Rights: This article defines the role the employer takes on in management of the university, course enrollment, hiring, and maintaining and making available rules and policies consistent with the Collective Agreement.
- Labour Relations Committee: This article enforces the establishment of a Labour Relations Committee formed of a small number of members of the Union and the same number from the employer. The goal of this committee is to discuss general conditions of and issues in the workplace, equity, and any other systemic issues.
The complete list of non-monetary, common items (Unit 0 & 1) is available for your perusal on our website. In summary, the list is as follows. Please note that bolded items are those that have been signed off between the local and the employer (see above).
- Employees represented
- Discrimination
- Union membership and dues
- Printing agreement
- Labour/management committees
- Grievance
- Arbitration
- Discipline
- No strikes and lockouts
- Technology and instruction
- Evaluation and employee files
- Academic freedom
- General
- Health and safety
- Code-based extension requests
- Accommodations
- Correspondence
- Indoor air quality standards
In subsequent meetings, we will aim to cover:
- Non-monetary items particular to Sessionals.
- Non-monetary items particular to TAs/RAs
- Monetary items related to Sessionals
- Monetary items related to TAs/RAs
If you have any thoughts related to your working conditions that you feel strongly about, or would like to see in the Collective Agreement, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Feel free to email us at cupe5524@outlook.com with your thoughts or a request to meet in person/virtually. If you would like to join the Bargaining Committee, and play an active role in contributing to our first Collective Agreement as a local, we would love to have you – please get in touch!
Our next General Membership Meeting will be held Thursday, January 23 2025 at 5:00 PM. Keep your eyes peeled for a meeting notice and agenda to your email inbox during the week of January 6th, 2025.
The Bargaining Committee’s next meetings with the employer will take place sometime in January (dates TBD). We will provide you with more updates shortly after these meetings.
Last, we are still seeking volunteers for our Contract Action Team (CATs).This role involves connecting with workers, engaging in on-the-ground conversations (in-person and online both available) and supporting the union local with events and promotions. If this is a role that interests you, please reach out!
In solidarity,
CUPE Local 5524
Academic Workers at the University of Waterloo