HAMILTON – McMaster contract teaching faculty carry a considerable portion of the curriculum but aren’t being fairly compensated for their work. Sid Ryan, President of the Ontario Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), will address the over 300 Sessional Faculty at McMaster and their supporters at an information rally on Monday, May 5th to raise awareness about one of the worst contracts in Southern Ontario. Sessional Faculty and Sessional Music Faculty, represented by CUPE local 3906, will be joined by representatives of trade unions from across the province at their rally which should prompt McMaster into a different mindset at the bargaining table.
“We’re looking for job security, equity in terms of basic rights like maternity leave and health benefits for our families, and wage parity with other faculty here at McMaster and across Southern Ontario,” says Juliette Merritt, a member of the bargaining team and Sessional Faculty in the Department of English. “McMaster is a prosperous university that can afford to compensate its contract faculty fairly and equitably.”
“The employer’s approach is that these workers are disposable. They need to understand that they are indispensable,” says Jesse Payne, Staff Representative to the local. “The working conditions at McMaster are far from ‘innovative’; they are in fact ‘behind the times.’”
The rally will take place on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 12:00 P.M. at the McMaster University campus. For further information, please contact the CUPE 3906 office at 905-525-9140 extension 24003.
Benefits Comparison for Workers at McMaster
|
Support Staff |
Full-Time Faculty |
Sessional Faculty |
|
| Family Dental Benefits |
YES |
YES |
NO |
| Family Medical Benefits |
YES |
YES |
NO |
|
Tuition Rebates for Dependents |
YES |
YES |
NO |
| Maternity Leave |
YES |
YES |
NO |
For more information contact:
Juliette Merritt cell: 905-517-0207 e-mail: jmerritt@cupe3906.org
Jesse Payne cell: 416-566-3903 e-mail: jpayne@cupe3906.org