What is a Union?
A labour or trade union is an organization of workers dedicated to protecting members' interests and improving wages, hours, and working conditions for all its members.
How does CUPE3913 Work?
CUPE 3913 sets its organizational structure and bylaws by majority vote. We are currently working on revising our bylaws, but you can find CUPE 3913’s current bylaws on our website.
The local represents two ‘units’ of employees (see c., below), and negotiates Collective Agreements (CA) with the employer (i,e, The University of Guelph) on their behalf. The Collective Agreements outline expectations for wages, benefits, and working conditions, among other issues.
Once a Collective Agreement is established between the Union and the employer, it is CUPE 3913’s primary task to ensure that it is not violated by the employer or its management. The Collective Agreement is renegotiated every few years, with the aim of improving the workplace and working lives of its Members.
What is CUPE?
CUPE Local 3913 represents two types of workers at the University of Guelph, which are divided into two units, each with separate Collective Agreements:
- Unit 1 - Teaching Assistants (TAs) - The bargaining unit for all Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and Graduate Service Assistants (GSAs) employed in work directly related to the academic enterprise, and Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs). This unit comprises the majority of our Membership.
- Unit 2 - Sessional Lecturers (Sessionals) - The bargaining unit for Members employed under contract as Sessional Lecturers to teach in university degree credit courses.
How do I know if I’m a Member?
When you accept a Work Assignment as a TA or Sessional, you automatically become a Member of CUPE 3913. Once you begin working, you are entitled to the benefits of Union 4 Membership, including the ability to submit claims for health benefits, attend Union meetings, and file grievances. You remain a Member for four (4) semesters after your last Work Assignment. However, if you have not worked within four (4) semesters of your last Work Assignment, you are no longer considered a Member. Your Membership will reinstate, however, as soon as you accept another Work Assignment.
What kinds of Work Assignments are available?
Unit 1 (TAs) Members can only have two kinds of assignments:
- 0.5 TAship - 70 hours of work per semester
- 1.0 TAship - 140 hours of work per semester
If you are offered a full term’s assignment lower than 0.5 (70 hours), please contact us.