Call to support CUPE 3261 and CUPE 3902 campaigns

November 15, 2022
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Dear UTFA Colleagues,

As we write this email, Bill 28 has just been repealed. The shared power of public- and private-sector unions, and a massive outpouring of public support for education workers in Ontario forced the Ford government to back down from legislation that attacked free and fair collective bargaining.

While negotiations between the provincial government and K-12 education workers continue, the fight for good jobs at U of T is heating up.

  • CUPE 3261 (service workers at U of T) are demanding no contracting out and may soon be on strike—their deadline is Monday, November 21.
  • CUPE 3902 Unit 3 (sessional lecturers, writing instructors, music professionals, and sessional instructional assistants) is deeply invested in bargaining for job security and dignity.
  • CUPE 3902 Unit 1 (teaching assistants, course instructors, exam invigilators, etc.) are continuing to resist proposed cuts to their healthcare benefits.

These campaigns are all part of a bigger struggle: a movement for good jobs at U of T & a better U of T.

What has UTFA been doing to support these campaigns?

  • UTFA Council endorsed CUPE 3261’s Good Jobs U of T campaign at its September 2022 meeting.
  • UTFA Council welcomed Amy Conwell, President of 3902, to its October 2022 meeting to learn directly about the issues they are facing in healthcare negotiations with the Administration.
  • At its last meeting, UTFA Executive voted unanimously to donate $1,000 to CUPE 3261’s strike fund. This is the largest amount allowed without Council approval.

What can you do to support these campaigns?

  1. Learn more about the issues by visiting the Good Jobs U of T campaign website and reviewing this Action Document from CUPE 3902 regarding proposed healthcare cuts.
  2. Quote tweet @cupe3261’s posts and encourage U of T to do the right thing.
  3. Sign this open letter circulating from U of T scholars to protest the outsourcing of good campus jobs.
  4. Send a letter to your Chair, Dean, or other Senior Administrators to support CUPE 3902, Unit 1, in fighting healthcare cuts (letter templates included here).
  5. All out for Good Jobs at U of T: attend this rally on Wednesday, November 16, 12-2 pm, in front of Sidney Smith Hall.

Yours,

Jeff Bale
UTFA Vice-President, University and External Affairs

Terezia Zorić
UTFA President