(Hamilton, ON) Today, 2,800 teaching and research assistants at McMaster University ended a strike and ratified a new agreement with important gains due to a reinvigorated university community, says CUPE Local 3906.
“We took on a truly conservative university, mobilized students, teaching and research assistants, and faculty, and we came out the other side with some real wage gains,” said Chris Fairweather, President of CUPE Local 3906. ““In a time of continually skyrocketing inflation, this is something members really needed.”
The five-year agreement was ratified by 69.6% of members who voted. It includes wage increases of $6.32/hr, or 14.1%, over the agreement for graduate teaching and research assistants; and $5.66/hr, or 21.7%, for undergraduate teaching assistants.
“We didn’t get everything we wanted, like fifth year funding for PhD students or tuition reimbursement, but with the amount of solidarity the university community showed us, I know we’re in a better position today than ever,” said Shalen Prado, Vice-President of CUPE Local 3906. “We’ll keep building capacity, informing the university community and what we need as workers, and calling on McMaster to do what’s right, both over the course of this agreement and ahead of the next round of bargaining.”
-30-
Daniel Tseghay
Communications Representative, CUPE
[email protected] | 647-220-9739
