About CUPE Local 3909

WELCOME MEMBERS!
Welcome to academic employment at the University of Manitoba. As a student or sessional academic employee at the U of M you are automatically a member of the union. We are here to assist you in any way that we can. We collectively bargain and administer the collective agreements that regulate your employment here at the University. Please feel free to get involved, or just keep informed with what the union is doing.

CUPE 3909 is a progressive economic and political organization that belongs to you. After all, the Union is only as strong as its membership. 3909’s activists are dedicated to fighting for better working conditions, but without an organized membership, significant gains are hard to make. Your Union needs Department Representatives, Executive Officers and people with skills in communications, writing, and artistry. If you don’t have time to participate stay informed by reading the newsletters, or just come to a Membership Meeting and discover what we are all about.

Wishing you all the best for the coming year, The Executive, Staff and Activists of CUPE Local 3909

Strength
CUPE 3909 represents some 1,200 employees at the University of Manitoba, making it one of the largest of the eight unions on campus. Unit 1 comprises all students employed as grader/markers, teaching assistants, demonstrators, tutors and lecturer/instructors. Unit 2 represents Sessional and part-time academics. Each unit negotiates its own collective agreement with the university, but in all other respects the two units operate together as one administrative and organizational structure. Strength lies in numbers folks, if you want the power to decide working conditions then be prepared to withdraw your labour during collective bargaining. Take note that job action only becomes legal when your collective agreement expires. Talk to a Union activist about it.

Commitment
CUPE 3909 is committed to the well being of the employees it represents. To these ends, it is committed to obtaining fair pay and respectful working conditions, resolving conflicts equitably, maintaining professional standards, and fighting for the protection and advancement of the social and economic interests of its members. Its collective agreements with the university ensure that the university does not exploit the dedication of its student and Sessional employees.

Democracy
Members collectively make the decisions. They determine union policies, vote on all major decisions, approve collective agreements, determine the level of union dues, and elect executive officers at membership meetings which are held at least once each term. The officers carry out the day-to-day operations of the union on a volunteer basis, assisted by a part-time office coordinator and an executive assistant. The membership at large also appoints internal committees, including negotiating committees.

CANADA’S UNION OF CHOICE FOR NON-FACULTY ACADEMIC WORKERS
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada's largest union, with over 500,000 members. Of these, 38,000 are educational workers in 81 universities and post-secondary institutions across Canada, including the University of Toronto, Dalhousie, Ryerson, McMaster, York, Saskatchewan, Ottawa and Carleton. All rights and benefits negotiated by CUPE 3909 apply to all the employees it represents whether or not you are a signed-up member of the union. Both members and non-members are equally entitled to all services and benefits the union offers. Membership does, however, entitle you to raise and vote on issues at all CUPE 3909 membership meetings. All student employees represented by CUPE 3909 are currently assessed dues of 2% of their income from work covered by the 3909 Collective Agreement with the university. The dues level is decided on by the members using a secret ballot. Dues money is used for daily operations and bargaining campaigns.

WE CAN HELP!

· Advice on issues of concern to you as a university employee
· Information and support when you think your rights have been violated
· Investigation and Initiation of formal complaints (grievances) against U of M on your behalf
· Assistance with Employment Insurance Claims
· Referrals to additional sources of help when you have any problem
· Answers to questions about your rights and duties
· Union officers to represent you or accompany you when disagreements arise
· Support for visa students facing bureaucratic hang-ups
· Guidance in dealing with student complaints
· Tips on handling differences with your professor / employment supervisor.


CUPE EQUALITY STATEMENT
Union solidarity is based on the principle that union members are equal and deserve mutual respect at all levels. Any behaviour that creates conflict prevents us from working together to strengthen our union. As unionists, mutual respect, cooperation and understanding are our goals. We should neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. Discriminatory speech or conduct which is racist, sexist, transphobic or homophobic hurts and thereby divides us. So too, does discrimination on the basis of ability, age, class, religion and ethnic origin. Sometimes discrimination takes the form of harassment. Harassment means using real or perceived power to abuse, devalue or humiliate. Harassment should not be treated as a joke. The uneasiness and resentment that it creates are not feelings that help us grow as a union. Discrimination and harassment focus on characteristics that make us different; and they reduce our capacity to work together on shared concerns such as decent wages, safe working conditions, and justice in the workplace, society and in our union. CUPE’s policies and practices must reflect our commitment to equality. Members, staff and elected officers must be mindful that all sisters and brothers deserve dignity, equality and respect.

Meet Your
Executive
CLICK HERE

THROUGH 
THE YEARS

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