CUPE + GSA Info Session AND Voting Announcement

Graduate students spent years fighting hard to form our own union for TA & RAs at UW.
Since certification, our union successfully protected more than $500,000 total in compensation being taken from hundreds of graduate students across Arts, Environment, Science, and Engineering.
Having unionized now, as graduate students, we should be informed about some of the critical negotiations that are part of our new democratic processes instituted to improve our conditions of work and our wages. These conversations are happening between our bargaining team and the university. Negotiated terms are formalized in a legally binding document: the Collective Agreement (CA).
After almost two years of active talks, our elected bargaining committee and CUPE representatives recently came to an agreement with the administration. They are proposing our first ever tentative Collective Agreement. So, we are hosting 2 info sessions on this:
  • OFFICIAL Contract Meeting: ONLINE on Sat, Feb 21, 1:30-4:30pm (register here)
  • GSA + CUPE Info Session: SLC 3126, Tuesday, Feb 24, at 10:30am
For this proposed CA to come into effect, a majority of union members need to vote YES to approve it. Voting will be open from Saturday, Feb 21, 2026 until 10am on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026.
If you have been a TA or RA in the last two years (since January 2024), you are eligible to vote on whether we ratify this proposed CA.
These info sessions are a critical opportunity for you as a grad worker to learn about specific articles in the CA and how they will impact you and your coworkers. These sessions exist to be transparent to our membership about the negotiation process and contents of the CA.
We encourage you to go to this event, become informed about your workplace, and participate in your workplace democracy.
Reach out to us at CUPE5524@uwaterloo.ca if you have questions or concerns about this or anything else related to your work at UW.

A Tentative Agreement Has Been Reached!

📢 Hello members and friends of CUPE5524 – Sessional Instructors, TAs, and RAs at the University of Waterloo! We are here with BIG NEWS! A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED! 🎉🥳

This has come after YEARS of work, including a recent 41 hour bargaining session over 3 days that ended at 5am last night! Now, we are happy to announce that both units have a tentative agreement!

Keep in mind, a tentative agreement isn’t the final contract. Now, it goes to you, the members of CUPE5524, to vote on whether you wish to accept the agreement or not, so keep an eye on your email for more information!

If you vote in favour, this will become our first ever contract! Otherwise, we will be back to bargaining to get you the contract you want!

A huge thank you to EVERYONE on the bargaining team. This was an incredible amount of work, and it couldn’t happen without you!

 

Enough is Enough – University of Waterloo Stonewalls Our Bargaining

(The following is copied-and-pasted from an email sent out to all members on August 19th, 2025. There have been updated since this came out. Please check your email for updates as they arrive!)

Hello members of CUPE5524 – TAs, RAs, and Sessional Instructors at the University of Waterloo,
Since October 2024, your Bargaining Committee has been meeting with the University, fighting to secure a fair contract for Sessionals (Unit 0) and Graduate TAs/RAs (Unit 1). Since our last Bargaining update in May, what we have faced at the table these past 3 months is nothing short of outrageous.
Here is what we have experienced:
  • June 16 – 18: We tabled ALL remaining non-monetary AND monetary items – benefits, paid leave, bursaries, holidays – everything except wages.
  • July 7 – 9: With two CUPE National representatives on our side, we bargained for Unit 0, where we put forward a wage proposal for Sessionals.
  • July 16: At 2 PM, the Employer admitted they don’t know how much money that they have in the budget, so they couldn’t discuss wages (which we had already proposed one week prior). One hour later, talks ended without discussing relevant items.
  • July 17: The bargaining that day was cancelled.
  • August 12 – 14: We clearly told the Employer, months in advance, that we wanted these days for Unit 1 – TAs and RAs. The Employer knew this fact. Instead, UW told us on Aug. 12 they could not start on Unit 1 at all. After we reminded them of their obligation to bargain under the Labour Relations Act, it appears the employer is going through the motions of bargaining without any intention of reaching an agreement, and they have indicated they will sign nothing. After 3 days of bargaining, we received no counter proposals from them on the TA/RA unit. Why? Because the Board of Governors has ordered them to finish Unit 0 first. They will not even form a committee for Unit 1 until late September. This is a year and a half after Unit 1 won certification and gave notice to bargain.
What does this mean?
The Employer is deliberately disrespecting your work and dragging out this process. We think they are avoiding bargaining by only engaging at a surface level.
We will not sit quietly. And neither should you.
We need to be ready to fight back. We need to show that we won’t accept any delays, excuses, or disrespect.
Here is what you can do right now:
  • Email us with your questions, concerns, and ideas. We need your voices now more than ever.
  • Talk to your fellow students and coworkers about what is happening. The more people know, the stronger we are.
  • Follow us on social media to stay up to date and help spread the word. On all platforms, we are @cupe5524.
  • Watch for our next emails. When news happens, you will be the first to know.
The Employer is stalling. We are organizing.
In Solidarity,
CUPE5524 Officer Team
CUPE5524 logo with a black and white version of Gizmo The Goose.

We Stand With CUPE2073!

While it may go without saying, we at CUPE5524 are PROUD to announce that WE STAND WITH CUPE2073! This small group of workers has an outsized impact, delivering critical programs for thousands of Deaf and hard of hearing Ontarians. They deserve our support!

It’s time to band together and show our support to our fellow workers. If you can, go over to the strike website to learn more: https://cupe.on.ca/chsstrike/

You can also sign their e-petition here: https://cupe.on.ca/chs/

EGSA + CUPE Joint Info Session – May 13

Hello, Environment Students, TAs, RAs, and members of CUPE 5524!

We are happy to announce that the EGSA and CUPE 5524 will be hosting a joint info session for all graduate students! This will be your chance to learn about the union, ask questions, meet your representatives, and get your voice heard for concerns you have faced on campus and at Waterloo.

The CUPE 5524 officers will be giving a presentation about what they do and how you can get involved. Then, they will be hosting a Q&A. where you can ask any questions you have and talk with the team members themselves. Free pizza will be provided, and there may just be some prizes available!

The info session will be on Tuesday, May 13th, from 2pm to 4pm in EV3-1408. If you are interested in attending, or even just getting some free food, please RSVP below and get entered to win in a prize draw!

See you all there! In solidarity,
CUPE5524 logo with a black and white version of Gizmo The Goose.

CUPE5524 Commemorates May Day

[Taken From CUPE National] Defending labour rights, equity and economic justice is more urgent than ever. Our rights and quality of life are under increasing threat from the growing push to privatize public services, the staggering rise in the cost of living, and attacks from the far right.

May 1 commemorates the massacre at Haymarket Square in Chicago in 1886. On this day, workers around the world have taken to the streets to celebrate their collective power, defend their rights, and demand equity and economic justice.

CUPE celebrates International Workers’ Day, or May Day, in solidarity with millions around the world who denounce exploitation, defend their right to unionize, and demand decent and safe working conditions.

In Canada, many workers mark May 1 with rallies. The day is a moment to remember the major victories achieved by worker activism and solidarity. These include the eight-hour workday, paid sick leave and the right to a safe workplace.

International Workers’ Day is a chance for us to celebrate the labour movement’s collective strength, and our ability to protect and fight for our public services, the working class and our hard-earned rights.

International solidarity is our best tool in the fight for workers’ rights. CUPE encourages everyone to join this worldwide mobilization.

CUPE5524 and The 2025 Federal Election

Hello members of Local 5524,

We hope you are well. Please find below a number of updates regarding the upcoming federal election. This comes as an imperative from a vote that took place at our most recent General Members’ Meeting on April 1, 2025.

CUPE has a long history with politics and Canadian elections, and this election is no different. CUPE National has launched the CUPE Votes campaign, where it has officially endorsed the NDP and stands against Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives. CUPE National stands for workers’ rights, public services, pharmacare, and federal anti-scab legislation (amongst other principles).

CUPE Local 5524 firmly believes that to vote is a freedom of thought and speech, as well as a right. Everyone should be given the option to independently be able to make an informed decision in this upcoming election, and CUPE5524 encourages this.

As this election approaches, we would like to announce that, as a result of the vote at the most recent GMM, CUPE5524 has officially endorsed the Palestine Platform. This platform is outlined in votepalestine.ca and below in brief:

  1. That a two-way arms embargo on Israel be imposed,
  2. That Canada end all involvement in illegal Israeli settlements,
  3. That Anti-Palestine racism be addressed and that freedom of expression on Palestine be protected,
  4. That Canada recognizes the State of Palestine, and
  5. That protection and funding for Gaza relief efforts be provided.

Furthermore, the Palestine Platform has provided a list of all MPs or Candidates who have endorsed it already, which can be found here. In the electoral district of Waterloo, where the University of Waterloo is located, the candidate for the New Democratic Party, Héline Chow, and the candidate for the Green Party of Canada, Simon Guthrie, have so far endorsed the platform.

In preparing for this election, CUPE5524 officially encourages everyone to engage with your MPs and local candidates, and ask them to publicly state their views in regards to Palestine, and to ask for their support in regards to the Palestine Platform. If you wish to support the platform as well, and potentially pledge to not support candidates who don’t stand up for Palestine, you can do so on their website.

If you have any questions about the votes that took place at the April GMM, please do not hesitate to reach out. Minutes from this meeting will be available shortly, and will be attached to notice for the next GMM (tentatively set for Tuesday May 20, 2025, 5-7 PM).

For more resources on the voting process in this upcoming election, you can visit elections.ca. You can vote today at any Elections Canada office until 6 PM, or on Election Day (April 28) at your assigned polling station.

In Solidarity,

CUPE5524 logo with a black and white version of Gizmo The Goose.

Long COVID Awareness: Silent Walk

Hello everyone! Recently, the Faculty of Health Dean’s Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism wanted to share an event with all of the members of Local 5524! So, coming from them, here is the Long COVID Awareness Event!

Did you know that some people experience ongoing health challenges after a COVID-19 infection? Long COVID, also known as Post-COVID Condition, affects millions worldwide, impacting daily life, work, and well-being. There are currently no Health Canada approved treatments.

Join the UWaterloo community for a walk on March 27 to support those with Long COVID and promote awareness. The walk starts from the Health Expansion building at noon.

Learn More & Register: bit.ly/walk-register

A poster displaying the Long COVID Awareness Silent Walk event on March 27th, at 12:00 noon in the Health building.

Calling All Cats! – Volunteers Needed!

Hello, General Membership of CUPE 5524 – Academic Workers at UW! We have a bit of a non-standard post for you all today, but we are currently actively looking for volunteers, and need your help!

Right now, we are looking for members for our CAT team! A CAT is a team of CUPE 5524 members from across your workplace, spanning every faculty and department. This team is responsible for communicating directly with other CUPE 5524 members in their work area to ensure they are fully informed and participating in collective bargaining.

Our CATS do a lot as a team! For example, they:

  • Have one-on-one conversations with assigned coworkers and take notes
  • Debrief conversations and outcomes with a lead organizer and input information into shared spreadsheets
  • Assess the quantity and quality of member participation in your assigned area

Our CAT members are enthusiastic, committed to collective power, and are determined to push the union forwards. Want to help out? Contact us at cupe5524.catlead@outlook.com!

Updates on Bargaining – December 2024

Hello, CUPE 5524 (Academic Workers at UW)! We are emailing to communicate our bargaining updates with the University.

On December 18 and 19, the CUPE 5524 Bargaining Committee for Unit 0 (Sessional Instructors) met again with the employer to continue negotiating a collective agreement between the union local and the university. Several Bargaining Committee members from Unit 1 (TAs and RAs) also attended, as the items we were negotiating continue to be relevant to both groups of employees.

We have agreed to two more articles:

  • Management Rights: This article defines the role the employer takes on in management of the university, course enrollment, hiring, and maintaining and making available rules and policies consistent with the Collective Agreement.
  • Labour Relations Committee: This article enforces the establishment of a Labour Relations Committee formed of a small number of members of the Union and the same number from the employer. The goal of this committee is to discuss general conditions of and issues in the workplace, equity, and any other systemic issues.

The complete list of non-monetary, common items (Unit 0 & 1) is available for your perusal on our website. In summary, the list is as follows. Please note that bolded items are those that have been signed off between the local and the employer (see above).

  • Employees represented
  • Discrimination
  • Union membership and dues
  • Printing agreement
  • Labour/management committees
  • Grievance
  • Arbitration
  • Discipline
  • No strikes and lockouts
  • Technology and instruction
  • Evaluation and employee files
  • Academic freedom
  • General
  • Health and safety
  • Code-based extension requests
  • Accommodations
  • Correspondence
  • Indoor air quality standards

In subsequent meetings, we will aim to cover:

  1. Non-monetary items particular to Sessionals.
  2. Non-monetary items particular to TAs/RAs
  3. Monetary items related to Sessionals
  4. Monetary items related to TAs/RAs

If you have any thoughts related to your working conditions that you feel strongly about, or would like to see in the Collective Agreement, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Feel free to email us at cupe5524@outlook.com with your thoughts or a request to meet in person/virtually. If you would like to join the Bargaining Committee, and play an active role in contributing to our first Collective Agreement as a local, we would love to have you – please get in touch! 

Our next General Membership Meeting will be held Thursday, January 23 2025 at 5:00 PM. Keep your eyes peeled for a meeting notice and agenda to your email inbox during the week of January 6th, 2025.

The Bargaining Committee’s next meetings with the employer will take place sometime in January (dates TBD). We will provide you with more updates shortly after these meetings.

Last, we are still seeking volunteers for our Contract Action Team (CATs).This role involves connecting with workers, engaging in on-the-ground conversations (in-person and online both available) and supporting the union local with events and promotions. If this is a role that interests you, please reach out!

In solidarity,
CUPE Local 5524
Academic Workers at the University of Waterloo