The Union has negotiated changes to the Plan effective September 1, 2009.

Members of units 1 and 2 can now join the Plan “on the first day of the month coincident with or next following the date on which he or she has received earnings at least equal to the September 1 course director rate…. in each of two consecutive years.” Members who have held a course directorship or have the equivalent in earnings in the Fall term 2009 and in the Winter or Summer terms of 2010 are now eligible.

Additionally, the Employer has agreed that members of the Plan will not have to re-qualify after an absence from employment at York unless they have decided to withdraw their funds from the Plan because they have ended their employment relationship with the university.

From Lynn McDougall, CUPE 3903 Administrator:

December 4, 2009

Communiqué to the members of CUPE Local 3903

In my previous communiqué, I offered for interest a number of committees to the membership in order to address some of the day-to-day work of the local, and some to address the review process needed as we proceed through Administration and in preparation for the local to be returned to the membership. I would like to thank those members who have indicated their interest in the committees offered and each of you will hear from me personally over the next week. At the end of this communiqué, other committees will similarly be offered and again I would ask that members interested kindly reply to the email addresses provided, and you will be contacted after the closing date of the offer.

Blanket Application Deadline Unit 1 and 2

Please be advised that the deadline for Blanket Applications is January 31st 2010. Members will need to apply directly and separately to each hiring unit in which they seek appointment. You must submit a copy of your CV with each completed application.

Unit 1 blanket application form

Unit 2 blanket application form

If you require any further assistance, please contact either one of the staff reps:

Please see the notice below, forwarded on behalf of the York University Graduate Students’ Association. Please also note that your 3903 Labour Management Committee members are continuing to work on your behalf regarding this issue.

Lynn McDougall

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Dear fellow York community members,

York’s Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) has recently sent a letter to all graduate Program Directors (GPDs) stating that there are to be changes to the system of funding graduate students at York University. Significant among these will be the abolishment of the minimum funding guarantee that is currently the norm for all incoming students with an entering average of B+ or higher. The justification provided for this change is that it will provide more "flexibility" for programs in assigning funding to incoming graduate students. The letter also states that "no decision has yet been reached as to the levels of funding that will be provided next year [2010-2011]".

From Lynn McDougall, CUPE 3903 Administrator:

To the membership of CUPE Local 3903 – Update on Administration

I would like to begin this update with great appreciation to all the members that have contacted me with concerns and suggestions regarding the Administration of CUPE Local 3903, the local structure, the finances and local’s environment issues.

My priorities in the past 2 weeks have included the outstanding financial obligations to our local staff, both legal and contractual; the structuring of review plans on a number of issues including the financial practices review, which have already begun; and ensuring that committees involved with the day-to-day operation and labour relations of the local are reinstated quickly and effectively.

This call for solidarity arrives via Graham Potts and Mohan Mishra:

CUPE Ontario Rally - Thursday November 12th - 12 noon

Standing in Solidarity with Locked out CEP Members - Cadillac Fairview 61

Toronto Dominion Centre (Bay & Wellington - look for CUPE flags)

Join Sisters and Brothers from CUPE and the labour movement in a show of solidarity and support for the 61 members of CEP Local 2003 who have been locked out from their jobs at the Toronto-Dominion Centre by their employer Cadillac Fairview.

Let's show Bay Street that Labour stands united with the Cadillac Fairview 61!!

Click the link for a letter from CUPE National president Paul Moist.

Attached is a communiqué from Lynn McDougall, the administrator of CUPE 3903.

Please find attached an important announcement from CUPE National.

This arrives via Graham Potts and Karen Walker. There will probably be more activity concerning this issue, so please stay tuned:

Dear Fellow Students, CUPE Brothers and Sisters, Family, Friends and Supporters,

The students of York's 2 Year MSW program, class of 2010 need your help.

On October 5, 2009, we were told by our social work administration that we would not be getting the $10,000 we were promised in our offers of admission to York University. Instead we would be getting $6,667. By reneging on the amount that we thought we were getting since our offers were sent in 2008, York is trying to save almost $120,000.