CUPE 3906

Hi Undergrads!

I hope everyone is doing well and that the semester has been going smoothly! I know this can be a stressful time of year, especially with assignments piling up and exams just around the corner, but I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself and share a few updates.

My name is Nabil Rajput, and I am a recent graduate of McMaster University, currently a Unit 1 (Teaching Assistant) member of CUPE 3906. I also have the pleasure of serving as your Undergraduate Officer!

In this role, I work alongside our union’s executive team to support undergraduate members, advocate for their needs, and help address any workplace concerns or questions. Whether you are working in Unit 1 (Teaching Assistants), Residence Life as a Community Advisor (CA), Guest Registration Assistant (GRA), or in another undergraduate position represented by CUPE 3906, I am here to support you.

This could include questions about your workplace rights, available union benefits, challenges you may be experiencing at work, or simply understanding what resources and support are available to you. My goal is to make sure undergraduate members feel heard, supported, and connected to their union.

A quick reminder that we are hosting an Undergraduate Drop-In Social tomorrow!

📍 Location: Hamilton Hall

📅 Date: Friday, November 13

🕒 Time: 3:00–6:00 PM

We will have pizza, drinks, and members of our executive team available to chat! This is a great opportunity to meet other undergraduate members, ask questions about your benefits, learn how to submit claims, or simply stop by and say hello.

There is no formal agenda, so feel free to drop in whenever you have some time!

I also wanted to emphasize that you do not need to wait for an event to reach out. If you are experiencing any workplace concerns, have questions about your rights or benefits, or would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss something, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be more than happy to connect and help however I can.

You can reach me directly at undergrads@cupe3906.org.

As we approach the end of the semester, I wish everyone the very best with their assignments, exams, and everything else you have going on. Thank you for all the work you do across campus, and I hope to see some familiar faces (and meet some new ones!) tomorrow!

Best wishes,

Nabil Rajput

Did you know?

Unit 2 Members are invited to the Paul R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching Sessional and Part-Time Faculty Orientation to Teaching and Learning in January 2027! Please visit this website for more information and registration instructions: https://mi.mcmaster.ca/events/sessional-and-part-time-faculty-orientation-to-teaching-and-learning-5/

And did you know that you can receive a $100 award from the Union for attending this (and other) training offered by the MacPherson Institute for Teaching and Learning?

Make sure to check out our Unit 2 Training Fund website for more information (https://cupe3906.org/sessionals-unit-2/training-fund/) on how to claim up to $300 this academic year all while making use of the training available to you at no cost!

CUPE Local 3906 stands in solidarity with students across Ontario mobilizing for accessible, affordable, and publicly funded post-secondary education. You can read our full statement here: CUPE 3906 Stands in Solidarity with Ontario Students Against Austerity (ONSAA).

As you may be aware, province-wide demonstrations are planned for tomorrow, November 5, including events on campus.

Work Responsibilities

Please be advised that while there is a student protest tomorrow, the Employer expects all CUPE 3906 members to attend any scheduled work activities, including facilitating labs, seminars, and tutorials. CUPE 3906 supports the student movement and its demands, but our Local is not on strike, and members are expected to fulfill their assigned work responsibilities.

Solidarity and Participation

We recognize and support students’ and our members’ right to organize, speak out, and demand an education system that serves students and communities rather than placing an ever-growing financial burden on those pursuing an education.

We also recognize that thousands of union members are students themselves and are directly affected by rising costs and growing barriers to post-secondary education. As workers and students, our experiences and interests are deeply connected, and we stand together in advocating for accessible, affordable, and publicly funded education. Members who are not scheduled to work, or who have completed their assigned work responsibilities, are free to decide for themselves whether and how they wish to participate; participation in demonstrations is entirely an individual choice. We encourage solidarity, mutual respect, and consideration for the broader university student community.

Supporting Students in Our Classes

Union members should speak with their course instructors about supporting students who may miss class tomorrow. Additional guidance is available through McMaster’s Academic Guidance for the November 5 Student Day of Action.

At recent General Membership Meetings, the membership of Local 3906 has voted to endorse Scarlett Gillespie (Mayor- https://scarlettformayor.ca/), Nathan Savelli (Ward 1- https://savelliforward1.ca/), and Spencer Naylor (Ward 13- https://www.snaylorward13.ca/) in the upcoming Hamilton Municipal Elections.

These members each have inclusive, labour-friendly, progressive platforms that will protect the environment and advance the needs of Hamilton’s working-class and most vulnerable.

CUPE 3906 stands in solidarity with students across Ontario mobilizing for accessible, affordable, and publicly funded post-secondary education. We support our members’ right to organize, speak out, and demand an education system that serves students and communities, not one that places an evergrowing financial burden on those pursuing an education.

On November 5, 2026, students across Ontario will take action against austerity, including major changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), the lifting of the multi-year tuition freeze, and the ongoing underfunding of post-secondary education. Organized by Ontario Students Against Austerity (ONSAA) and supported by allied Campus Unions and Students Associations, this day of action calls for meaningful change, including reversing OSAP cuts and addressing the growing barriers to accessing and completing a post-secondary education.

Students are not just students; they are also workers. Many balance classes, assignments, and exams with paid employment, often in precarious or low-wage jobs, just to afford tuition, rent, food, and other basic necessities. They are our teaching assistants, research assistants, campus workers, residence workers, sessional instructors, and future colleagues. They contribute to our workplaces, our campuses, and our communities while working to build a future for themselves. When education becomes less affordable, the burden does not stop at the classroom door, it affects students’ livelihoods, working conditions, and futures.

As a union representing academic workers at McMaster University, CUPE 3906 recognizes that the struggles of students and workers are deeply interconnected. Accessible education, fair working conditions, and economic justice are not separate issues. They are part of the same fight for a more equitable society. We believe that access to education should not depend on a person’s income or their ability to take on debt. No one should have to choose between paying rent and paying tuition, between putting food on the table and purchasing course materials, or between their education and their economic well-being.

On November 5, we encourage our members and the broader university community to stand in solidarity with students and support their call for an accessible, affordable, and adequately funded postsecondary education system. Their fight is our fight, because a stronger public education system benefits us all.

CUPE 3906

Attention Unit 1 (TA and RA in lieu) Members!

We are hosting a Unit 1 drop-in Session from 3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. in JHE 328 (Engineering Lounge).

Enjoy some snacks, ask some questions, and enjoy socializing with fellow members!

We have an RSVP form (please see link/QR code below) for you to fill out so that we can estimate the number of members attending, and where you can indicate any dietary restrictions, etc..

We hope to see you there!

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/jzgCvcy4Gq

Our next General Membership Meeting, or GMM, will be held on Thursday, October 22nd at 1 p.m. via zoom. A registration link has been sent to your email. Please register at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting to ensure that we have time to approve your attendance. The agenda – once finalized – will be available here: https://cupe3906.org/gmm-materials/

Please note that our next GMM will be held on Thursday, November 26th at 1 p.m., also via Zoom.

Are you between the ages of 16-29 and interested in workers’ rights, social justice, and labour arts & heritage? Looking to get involved in your local community? Join WAHC’s 2026-27 Youth Council!

Youth Council members shape WAHC programming & learn hands-on skills by developing a youth-led project throughout the year. There’s opportunities to connect with like-minded workers, and learn about contemporary issues in labour arts & heritage from professionals in the field. Time commitment is 1-2 meetings per month. Members can be local and non- local to Hamilton, ON.

First Meeting: Friday November 6, 2026, 6-7pm PM at 51 Stuart St, Hamilton ON and online. For more information, email Sylvia with questions at sylvia@wahc-museum.ca

Looking for more info? https://wahc-museum.ca/event/wahc-youth-council-information-session/