Members of CUPE 3912 at Dalhousie University (Dal) have voted 77 per cent in favour of their new four-year collective agreement. More than 1,600 votes were cast over a two-day period, ending on November 11, 2022.

“Our members are receiving significant wage increases and contract improvements that will make a real, positive change in their lives,” says Cameron Ells, CUPE 3912 President.

The deal includes:

  • A course contract wage increase of 23 per cent over four years for new part-time academic instructors
  • An hourly pay rate increase of 23 per cent over four years for all teaching assistants
  • An hourly pay rate increase of 44 per cent over four years for both markers and demonstrators
  • Full payment to members for their fall 2022 contracts with the employer

The term of the collective agreement is from September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2024.

“Our members brought their initiative, creativity, adaptability, organizational strength, democratic spirit, and perseverance to this effort,” says Ells. “Throughout the last 100 days, including those of our three-week strike, there has been a great show of support and solidarity from across the organized labour family and from our various communities.”

“Thank you, in particular, to our Dalhousie strike committee, our negotiating team, CUPE National, the Dalhousie Student Union, CUPE 3912 members, friends, supporters and allies,” says Ells. “Be it on the picket line, online in general, or behind the scenes, your generous contributions of time, energy, effort, and thoughtfulness are much appreciated.”

“We have goals that have not yet been achieved and there is more work to be done. Now we begin preparations and planning in support of our next round of negotiations,” adds Ells. “Our union is stronger than ever, and we have the desire, resources, and capacity to build on this result.”

“We look forward to returning to work, and continuing to provide quality, in-person post-secondary education.”

About CUPE 3912

CUPE 3912 is Nova Scotia’s largest university union, proudly representing more than 3,000 precarious academic workers in four bargaining units at Dalhousie University (Dal), Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), and Saint Mary’s University (SMU). The union’s members are part-time instructors at all three institutions, language instructors at The Language Centre at SMU, and teaching assistants, markers, and demonstrators at Dal.