Posted on Aug. 9: New contract for sessional lecturers and music instructors

Sessional lecturers and music instructors have approved a new collective agreement with the University. The three-year contract was ratified Wednesday by members of CUPE local 3906, Unit 2. The Board of Governors had approved the terms in late July.

“Both the University and the union should be proud of the effort that went into the negotiations and the successful outcome,” says Fred A. Hall, chair of the University's bargaining team. “Lecturers and instructors are an important part of the McMaster community. We worked hard together to reach a balance between their issues of concern and McMaster's need for a fiscally responsible settlement that provides stability for the University.”

“We are glad that negotiations have concluded successfully,” says Philippa Carter, a member of the CUPE 3906 bargaining team. “We believe that the new contract finally begins to address several significant issues that have always been of concern to the union and we are pleased that the University's team was able to make some movement in these areas. We recommended the tentative agreement to our members and a considerable majority voted in favour of accepting the proposed contract.”

The agreement includes the following provisions:

Rate of pay for a six-unit course
— retroactive to this past May 1st — $9,250

— May 1st, 2003 — $9,620

— May 1st, 2004 — $10,004.80
Rates include amounts formerly paid as premiums for classes of 100 students or less. A new class size premium now applies for classes with more than 100 students
Music instructors' payment increased to $41 per hour effective this past May 1st, rises to $42 in the second year and then to $43 in the final year of the contract
Sessional lecturers and music instructors who have taught 18 units at McMaster receive a premium rate
New union-administered benefit plan
A variety of improvements to job security and other non-monetary provisions

In any given year McMaster employs approximately 200 sessional instructors. Each has full or joint responsibility for teaching one or more degree credit courses.

Republish this Article for Free

Republish this Article

We believe in the free flow of information. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivs 2.5 Canada (CC BY-ND 2.5 CA), so you can republish our articles for free, online or in print.

All republished articles must be attributed in the following way and contain links to both the site and original article: “This article was first published on Daily News. Read the original article.”

Sessional lecturers and music instructors have approved a new collective agreement with the University.  The three-year contract was ratified Wednesday by members of CUPE local 3906, Unit 2.  The Board of Governors had approved the terms in late July.<p><br />
<br />
"Both the University and the union should be proud of the effort that went into the negotiations and the successful outcome," says Fred A. Hall, chair of the University&#039;s bargaining team.  "Lecturers and instructors are an important part of the McMaster community.  We worked hard together to reach a balance between their issues of concern and McMaster&#039;s need for a fiscally responsible settlement that provides stability for the University."<p><br />
<br />
"We are glad that negotiations have concluded successfully," says Philippa Carter, a member of the CUPE 3906 bargaining team. "We believe that the new contract finally begins to address several significant issues that have always been of concern to the union and we are pleased that the University&#039;s team was able to make some movement in these areas. We recommended the tentative agreement to our members and a considerable majority voted in favour of accepting the proposed contract."<p><br />
<br />
The agreement includes the following provisions:<ul><br />
<br />
<li>Rate of pay for a six-unit course<br><br />
-- retroactive to this past May 1st  -- $9,250 <br><br />
-- May 1st, 2003 -- $9,620<br><br />
-- May 1st, 2004 -- $10,004.80</li><br />
<br />
<li>Rates include amounts formerly paid as premiums for classes of 100 students or less.  A new class size premium now applies for classes with more than 100 students</li><br />
<br />
<li>Music instructors&#039; payment increased to $41 per hour effective this past May 1st, rises to $42 in the second year and then to $43 in the final year of the contract</li><br />
<br />
<li>Sessional lecturers and music instructors who have taught 18 units at McMaster receive a premium rate</li><br />
<br />
<li>New union-administered benefit plan</li><br />
<br />
<li>A variety of improvements to job security and other non-monetary provisions</li></ul><br />
<br />
In any given year McMaster employs approximately 200 sessional instructors.  Each has full or joint responsibility for teaching one or more degree credit courses.

Media Enquiries

Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24073
Email: comms@mcmaster.ca

The Communications and Public Affairs Office is staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

The University has a broadcast quality television studio to facilitate live and pre-recorded interviews with media. Learn more about our experts.