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CUPE 3903 Strike News
In this
issue:
a.
Wednesday, January 14
1. Update/correction: GMM
2. Upcoming meetings
c.
Saturday, January 17
Saturday,
January 17
CUPE Local 3903 | York University, 104 East Office Building
4700
Keele St., Toronto Ontario M3J-1P3
_______________________________________________
CUPE 3903 Strike News
In this
issue:
a.
Tuesday, January 13
1. Forced Ratification: Date, Location, and Times
2. Kill the Rat!: Rally tomorrow
Join us
tomorrow at Sentinel at noon
for a rally against the forced
ratification vote. We'll be
joined on the lines by the
good folks from CUPE 3906, as
well as Alexandre Leduc, a
member of the exec of the
Syndicat des �tudiants-es
Employ�-es de l'UQAM (S�TUE)
which represents the TAs and
GAs at L'Universit� du Qu�bec
� Montr�al. We're pleased to
welcome these visitors, and
grateful for their support in
our efforts. Dress warmly,
and bring your indignation.
6. GMM Location Announced This Wednesday's Special GMM on the forced ratification vote will be held from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM (potentially longer, as special GMMs are not capped at the three-hour mark) at Trinity-St. Paul United Church, at the corner of Bloor Street and Major Street, just west of Spadina Station. No food is allowed in the church itself, but the folks there have kindly made available to us their gymnasium, where pizza will be available after noon. TTC tokens and child care will be available.
7.
FYI:
EHB FAQ
CUPE 3903 Important Changes to the Extended Health Benefits Fund F.A.Q.
1. What is the Extended Health Benefits Fund (EHBF)?
In the 2005-2008 round of bargaining the union won $175,000 per union to cover members' health care related expenses not covered by OHIP or the Great West Life (now Sun Life) plan. The employer gave this money once per contract year to the union and the union adjudicated and disbursed the funds. The last contract year ended Aug 31, 2008 so the employer has not given funds for 08-09.
2. How do members access the EHBF?
By the last contract year, there were three options to the fund:
Option 1 � receipts for services such as massage therapy, chiropractic and physiotherapy were handed in for the four month period preceding each of three deadlines � Sept 10, Jan 10 and May 10 � and every member got a portion of their expenses back. There was $30,000 allocated to this fund
Option 2 � this urgent health needs and financial burden-based fund has been adjudicated on an as needed basis. Members submitted practitioner letters or quotes for services such as fertility treatment, psychotherapy and assistive devices. Members have been funded based on need and fund availability
Option 3 � this foreseen health needs and financial burden-based fund has been adjudicated three times a year, based on three deadlines � Sept 10, Jan 10 and May 10. Members submitted practitioner letters or quotes for services such as fertility treatment, psychotherapy and assistive devices. Members have been funded on a going forward basis, for the coming four-month period based on need and fund availability
Option 2/3 combined totaled $30,000.
3. How did the last Option 1 deadline and the option 2 and 3 claims for the Sept to Jan 10 period get paid for if the employer did not add to the fund?
The union committed its own funds this period given that the bargaining demands were the maintain the EHBF at at least $175,000 even while shifting a number of option 1 services into an extended health insurance plan.
4. Has bargaining or the strike changed the EHBF at all?
Yes. While the union accepts the transfer of specific services - such as chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopaths, physiotherapists, podiatrists � to an insurance plan, the employer wants to do this while lowering the $175,000 per year to $35,000. The insurance plan covers only up to the first $500 in any calendar year for each of six services.
It is important to point, however that this amount will not cover most of members' costs for non-insured services that they have typically applied for under option 2 and 3. Further, if our members had health costs over and above the $500 limit per service, there would be much fewer resources to fund these types of claims. As well, since the six services are only offered on a going-forward basis (i.e. after ratification of a new collective agreement), the union will have lost the money it committed for last Fall. The Bargaining Team is still fighting for the $175,000 and it needs your support by voting NO to the forced ratification but this is the current situation.
5. Can I apply for option 2 coverage right now?
No. All the EHBF monies are exhausted and we do not know what the bargaining outcome will be.
6. Can I apply for option 1 and 3 coverage at the Jan 10 deadline?
No. All the EHBF monies are exhausted and we do not know what the bargaining outcome will be. Once a new contract is negotiated, Option 1 expenses may well be covered under a new extended health insurance plan in which case you would apply there. We just do not know yet.
7. What if I have already submitted my application forms, receipts and/or quotes?
The union will keep these on file for now. Once a new contract is negotiated and we know what direction the fund and insurance plan is going in, the EHB committee will either return your receipts or adjudicate all the applications.
Any more questions? Please contact. extendedhealthbenefits@gmail.com or Sheila Wilmot (staff) at cupe3903.equity.officer@gmail.com.
CUPE Local 3903 | York University, 104 East Office Building
4700 Keele
St., Toronto Ontario M3J-1P3
_______________________________________________
CUPE 3903 Strike Announcement
Special
GMM - Wednesday January 14,
11-2 [location TBA]
CUPE Local 3903 | York University, 104 East Office Building
4700 Keele
St., Toronto Ontario M3J-1P3
_______________________________________________
Dear CUPE 3903 Members,
Today the York administration appealed to labour legislation enacted by Mike Harris' government to force a ratification vote on the administrations offer of January 7 2009. Both the executive and bargaining team convinced that this is yet another attempt by the administration to derail bargaining. The CUPE 3903 bargaining team arrived on the morning of January 9 as scheduled, ready to bargain, only to be informed that the administration was walking away from the table. We are very proud of the strength and solidarity of our members, and we are certain that this latest move will backfire against the employer.
The administration would have us believe that the choice is to either ratify their offer now or stay out indefinitely. But the reality is that with a strong show of support by voting no, the union will be in a strong position to negotiate a fair settlement for our membership. Once the membership rejects this "un-fair and un-equitable" offer, we will be in a stronger position to negotiate a speedy resolution to this strike on favorable terms.
In 2000-1, near to the end of our local's last strike, the administration also called for a forced ratification vote, which was unsuccessful in resolving the strike. It resulted in a return to the bargaining table where a deal was reached within three days. We are certain that our members will be mindful of the progress made in bargaining in the past few days, and how a return to the table would be the most productive way to reach a sustainable settlement that puts us back in the classroom. Yesterday, the union representing Ottawa Transit Workers overwhelmingly rejected a forced ratification vote, and have now returned to the bargaining table.
The administration's current offer is much less than what we received in our last contract. This current contract is valued at less than a total increase of 3% in each year of the agreement, and much less in the third, while our previous contracts have been valued between 4-5% in each year of the agreement. At the General Membership Meeting on January 8, over 90% of the 600+ members in attendance voted that they would reject this offer if it were brought to ratification. The membership also voted to condemn the repeated ways that the administration has sought to undermine the collective bargaining process and derail it through unnecessary delays and tactics such as this vote.
What does your vote against this offer mean? It means a rapid settlement which will result in more accessible graduate education, job security for contract faculty, and improved working and learning conditions at York University. While we have addressed some of the issues related to funding and fund protection in recent days, what your vote NO will ensure is that bargaining will continue on graduate student funding for Unit 1 and 3 members, and job security for Unit 2 members. It will also allow us to address the recent job losses for contract faculty, the sharp reduction in the Extended Health Benefits fund, the significant drop in conversion numbers each year, and continue to negotiate a superior Teaching Stream Appointment program.
Once the membership rejects not only this offer, but also the offensive manner in which it is being forced on us, we will be in an exceptionally strong position to come to a speedy resolution of the strike.
Sincerely, The CUPE 3903 Bargaining Team and Executive
CUPE Local 3903 | York University, 104 East Office Building
4700 Keele St., Toronto Ontario M3J-1P3
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