Why Join CUPE 3902?
CUPE is Canada’s largest public sector union, representing 131,000 education workers, including over 74,000 members in the post-secondary education sector. As the union for nearly 25% of non-faculty university workers, CUPE is at the forefront of campaigns for higher wages and stronger job protections improving the lives of working class people.
CUPE Local 3902 is the union for researchers.
CUPE 3902 represents non-faculty academic staff at the University of Toronto, Victoria College, and St. Michael’s College. With over 11,000 members, CUPE 3902 represents a diverse group of workers across seven units, each playing a critical role in the academic ecosystem.
Who is CUPE Local 3902?
Unit 1: Teaching Assistants, Course Instructors, Lab Assistants, Exam Invigilators, and Accessibility Services Workers at UofT.
Unit 2: Writing Instructors, Undergraduate Tutors, Teaching Assistants, and Course Instructors at Victoria College.
Unit 3: Sessional Lecturers, Writing Instructors, Sessional Instructional Assistants, Applied Music Sessionals, and Music Professionals at UofT.
Unit 4: Writing Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Course Instructors at St. Michael’s College.
Unit 5: Postdoctoral Researchers at UofT.
Unit 6: Workers in the International Foundations Program and the International Summer Academy at New College.
Unit 7: Graduate Assistants at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).
Research Associates will form Unit 8, strengthening the collective power of CUPE 3902.
Building Power Together
CUPE 3902 is the largest and most impactful union at the UofT, and our unity is our strength.
Recently, CUPE 3902 led a coordinated bargaining campaign with CUPE 3261, representing 8,000 academic and support workers, which achieved significant victories, including:
A 12.8% wage increase over three years.
Enhanced job security and health care benefits, including protections from clawbacks.
A commitment to a 45% transit subsidy for Teaching Assistants and Course Instructors.
A guaranteed living wage for Postdoctoral Researchers, along with improved health benefits and a new professional development fund.
A $25 minimum wage for support workers, improved sick leave, better vacation provisions, and extended health and dental cost savings.
Other Highlights from CUPE 3902 Contracts
Job Security
Unit 1 and Unit 6 employees have protections against layoffs. For Unit 1 members, once a contract is accepted, the employer cannot reduce their hours and must offer an equivalent position. Unit 6 members transitioned from year-to-year contracts to continuous employment ensuring greater stability in their roles.
Overwork Protections
Units 1 and 5 have established strong protections against overwork. Unit 1 employees receive a Description of Duties and Allocation of Hours (DDAH) form when they take on a new position. This form specifies the exact number of hours allocated for each task. If employees find they don’t have enough paid hours to complete their work, the University is required to engage in a formal process to adjust their hours appropriately. Employees cannot be required to work more hours than they are paid for.
For Unit 5 employees, restrictions are in place on the maximum number of hours they can be required to work, with flexibility for renegotiation. Previously capped at 50 hours per week, recent negotiations successfully reduced the limit to 44 hours while also securing significant wage increases. This means Unit 5 employees now earn more while working fewer hours.
A Vision for a
Better U of T
By joining CUPE 3902, you’ll stand with over 11,000 academic workers and become part of a broader network of unionized staff on campus, including lab technicians, maintenance workers, library staff, food service employees, caretakers, and administrative support. Together, we aim to make UofT a better, fairer place to work. With CUPE 3902, you’ll never face workplace challenges alone.
Access to Professional Development
CUPE 3902 collaborates with professional research and faculty associations, including the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). Through CAUT, members gain access to legal support, research expertise, professional development opportunities, and a broader professional academic network. This partnership empowers members to grow professionally while securing their rights and benefits.
Hear from CUPE 3902 members
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Tanushree Ghosh, PhD. Unit 5 Postdoc.
“The Union serves as a vital link between us, the postdocs at U of T, and the university authorities. My time as a steward has taught me valuable lessons about my rights as a worker here, and working alongside my peers has shown me how important it is to engage in effective negotiation to ensure our voices are heard. By joining the union, you'll gain the same sense of empowerment and freedom, along with the chance to collaborate with the incredible union team.”
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Erik Osinga, Ph.D. Unit 5 Postdoc.
“I joined the union when I became a postdoc in the astronomy department in 2023. It was immediately clear to me that unionization is the best way to improve our working conditions. Being part of the union has taught me how much strength we have when we stand together, and I’ve seen first-hand the kinds of contractual gains we can achieve. From fairer wages to better benefits, collective action has made a tangible difference. I encourage everyone, especially other academic workers, to consider the power and protection that comes from supporting and joining our union.”
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Karthik Ganesan, Ph.D. Unit 5 Postdoc.
“Throughout my 8+ years at U of T, I have benefited a lot from the work done by CUPE, including their efforts to raise graduate student stipends, making it possible to afford living in Toronto. I have also enjoyed many of the benefits negotiated for students by CUPE, including therapy, massages and others.”
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Nicole Tratnik, Ph.D. Unit 5 Postdoc.
“Unions are like having a personal advocate that can better negotiate conditions where you can work better and live better. When unions work, workers are happy and communities thrive.”
