(The following is copied-and-pasted from an email sent out to all members on August 19th, 2025. There have been updated since this came out. Please check your email for updates as they arrive!)
Hello members of CUPE5524 – TAs, RAs, and Sessional Instructors at the University of Waterloo,
Since October 2024, your Bargaining Committee has been meeting with the University, fighting to secure a fair contract for Sessionals (Unit 0) and Graduate TAs/RAs (Unit 1). Since our last Bargaining update in May, what we have faced at the table these past 3 months is nothing short of outrageous.
Here is what we have experienced:
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June 16 – 18: We tabled ALL remaining non-monetary AND monetary items – benefits, paid leave, bursaries, holidays – everything except wages.
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July 7 – 9: With two CUPE National representatives on our side, we bargained for Unit 0, where we put forward a wage proposal for Sessionals.
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July 16: At 2 PM, the Employer admitted they don’t know how much money that they have in the budget, so they couldn’t discuss wages (which we had already proposed one week prior). One hour later, talks ended without discussing relevant items.
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July 17: The bargaining that day was cancelled.
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August 12 – 14: We clearly told the Employer, months in advance, that we wanted these days for Unit 1 – TAs and RAs. The Employer knew this fact. Instead, UW told us on Aug. 12 they could not start on Unit 1 at all. After we reminded them of their obligation to bargain under the Labour Relations Act, it appears the employer is going through the motions of bargaining without any intention of reaching an agreement, and they have indicated they will sign nothing. After 3 days of bargaining, we received no counter proposals from them on the TA/RA unit. Why? Because the Board of Governors has ordered them to finish Unit 0 first. They will not even form a committee for Unit 1 until late September. This is a year and a half after Unit 1 won certification and gave notice to bargain.
What does this mean?
The Employer is deliberately disrespecting your work and dragging out this process. We think they are avoiding bargaining by only engaging at a surface level.
We will not sit quietly. And neither should you.
We need to be ready to fight back. We need to show that we won’t accept any delays, excuses, or disrespect.
Here is what you can do right now:
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Email us with your questions, concerns, and ideas. We need your voices now more than ever.
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Talk to your fellow students and coworkers about what is happening. The more people know, the stronger we are.
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Follow us on social media to stay up to date and help spread the word. On all platforms, we are @cupe5524.
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Watch for our next emails. When news happens, you will be the first to know.
The Employer is stalling. We are organizing.
In Solidarity,
CUPE5524 Officer Team
