CUPE 3902 is the trade union representing teaching assistants, lab demonstrators and other contract academic staff at the University of Toronto. Members have been negotiating a new contract with the Administration aimed at solving a number of problems identified by the Union. These problems include inadequate funding packages for TAs, poor allocation of fellowship money, and the growing size of undergraduate tutorials and labs.

By filing for “conciliation” the Administration has requested a conciliator, or mediator, from the Ontario Ministry of Labour be present at the bargaining table to help the parties reach a collective agreement. After one day of conciliatory negotiations, a compromise has yet to be reached; however, three more days of moderated bargaining are scheduled before the end of January.

In the event that the Administration calls for a lockout, or CUPE 3902 calls for a strike, there is a 17-day period immediately following, during which the two parties can try once more to reconcile before taking action. Members of CUPE are hopeful that an agreement will be reached before a lockout or strike is set in motion.

At Wednesday’s town hall information meeting for undergraduate students, CUPE 3902 Internal Liaison Officer Katie Mazer emphasized that although the bargaining process has reached this stage, students should not be immediately alarmed. “We’re trying to be creative and keep coming up with new iterations of our proposals,” she explained.

With that in mind, members of CUPE 3902—particularly TAs—have appealed to the undergraduate student body to show their support as the bargaining continues. The graduate students who led the meeting expressed the importance of keeping informed and informing others. “The name of ‘the undergrad’ is invoked constantly,” said Adleen Crapo, CUPE 3902 Undergraduate Outreach Coordinator. By showing support for TAs and other CUPE members, ‘the undergrad’ can powerfully raise its voice.