Sessional instructors at the University of Toronto voted 82% in favour of unionizing with CUPE 3902. Although the union and the employer still have issues to resolve regarding the composition of the bargaining unit, the ballots counted on Wednesday morning indicate strong support for the union.
The outstanding issues largely involve the question of whether sessionals teaching more than one full-year course qualify as part of the bargaining unit. The university maintains that these individuals have more in common with tenured faculty than they do with sessionals teaching one course or less. The union believes that all academics employed on short-term contracts belong in the same bargaining unit.
The Sessionals Organizing Committee at the UofT was strongly supported in the certification drive by CUPE 3902 which represents more than 4,000 teaching assistants and course instructors at the University of Toronto.
The outstanding issues largely involve the question of whether sessionals teaching more than one full-year course qualify as part of the bargaining unit. The university maintains that these individuals have more in common with tenured faculty than they do with sessionals teaching one course or less. The union believes that all academics employed on short-term contracts belong in the same bargaining unit.
The Sessionals Organizing Committee at the UofT was strongly supported in the certification drive by CUPE 3902 which represents more than 4,000 teaching assistants and course instructors at the University of Toronto.