Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
McMaster logo

Human Resources Services

Information for CUPE Units at McMaster

COVID 19 graphic

It has been communicated that McMaster in-person classes for undergraduate and graduate students will end at the end of the day Friday March 13th, and no in person exams will be held at the end of term. Faculty members and instructors are asked to work with their Chairs, Directors and Deans to be prepared to communicate with students by Wednesday, March 18th to let them know how the remainder of their courses will be managed and grades assessed so that they can complete their credits within the normal timeframe of the winter term. These solutions will vary from course to course.

CUPE Unit 1 – Teaching Assistants

Employees who are members of the CUPE Local 3906 Unit 1 bargaining unit, which includes Teaching Assistants, demonstrators, tutors and super tutors, markers, and research assistants who receive a research assistantship in lieu of a teaching assistantship (“Teaching Assistants”), may be required to support their employment supervisor to move from in-person classes and in-person exams to alternative methods of ensuring successful course delivery to students.

Will I be paid?

Yes, all Teaching Assistants will be paid for the hours they were assigned to work for the Winter 2020 term, according to the existing bi-weekly payroll schedule.  Where additional hours of work are assigned, Teaching Assistants will be appropriately compensated.

Am I expected to perform my Teaching Assistant duties?

Yes, you will be expected to perform duties as a Teaching Assistant. The focus of your duties, or the distribution of your hours may be amended.

Will my work duties change?

With the University’s transition to alternate course delivery, you may be asked to support your employment supervisor by performing your Teaching Assistant duties in different ways.  This may result in adjustments to the requirements outlined on your Hours of Work form.

Recognizing the need for flexible and nimble procedures relating to the redistribution of hours in these exceptional circumstances, typical processes relating to Hours of Work Form adjustments have been waived during this time.  We thank you for your cooperation, support, and flexibility during this time and encourage you to engage in open discussion with your employment supervisor.

Examples of such re-allocation of work may include:

  • Preparation for the use of institutional tools and supports to connect instructors and Teaching Assistants with learners to provide course content, e.g. Avenue to Learn, MacVideo, Echo360, WebEx, Microsoft Teams.
  • Additional time spent corresponding with students either using Avenue to Learn, email, etc.
  • Additional time spent preparing for alternate methods for grading of student course work and marking of end of term exams and assignments.

Additional support is available at:

Will I receive training to support resources such as Avenue to Learn, MacVideo, Echo306, WebEx, and Microsoft Teams?

If your employment supervisor assigns you to use tools that are unfamiliar to you, they will arrange for appropriate instruction to you and you will be paid for your time to participate in such instruction.

Given there will be no end of term in-person exams, am I still expected to support my TA course exam?

Your employment supervisor will advise you by March 18th how you will be expected to support and/or mark end of term exams or assignments, if applicable.

CUPE Unit 2 – Sessional Faculty

Sessional Faculty are asked to work cooperatively with their Chairs, Directors and Deans to be prepared to communicate with students by Wednesday March 18th, to let them know how the remainder of their courses will be managed and grades assessed so that they can complete their credits within the normal timeframe of the winter term.

All Sessional Faculty members will receive payment for their Winter 2020 appointments.

CUPE Unit 3 – Post-Doctoral Fellows

While the transition to online and other types of solutions occur, the remainder of the University will remain open. The research enterprise will continue to function. There should be no impact to hours of work or work related responsibilities for Postdoctoral Fellows at this time.

If a Post-Doctoral Fellow has a teaching assignment included with their appointment, they are asked to work cooperatively with their Chairs, Directors and Deans to be prepared to communicate with students by Wednesday March 18th, to let them know how the remainder of their courses will be managed and grades assessed so that they can complete their credits within the normal timeframe of the winter term.

 

 

 Collective Agreements & Union Relations,  COVID-19,  Payroll,  Things to Know,  TMG