Latest labour agreements reached at the University of Toronto

The University of Toronto and two of its unions successfully reached labour agreements last week with postdoctoral fellows and machinists who work on our campuses.

“We are pleased that we were able to come to a resolution that was acceptable to both union members and the University,” said Kelly Hannah-Moffat, U of T’s vice-president of human resources and equity. 

“I want to thank all of those involved who worked so hard to reach these two collective agreements.”

The postdoctoral fellows are members of CUPE 3902, Unit 5, which represents approximately 650 employees in this category. The agreement is the second contract with this group and was ratified unanimously in a membership vote held on May 29 and 30. The three-year agreement includes salary increases in each year as well as an immediate raise to the minimum salary. It also provides benefit enhancements including a new childcare benefit.  

An agreement was also reached with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 353 (Machinists Unit) that represents employees who work as Industrial Mechanics/Millwrights in U of T’s facilities and services department. The agreement is for a three-year term running from May 1, 2015 to April 30, 2018. 

The University has 23 collective agreements with 11 different unions; 13 agreements are up for renewal in 2017.

“Our goal is always to have productive rounds of bargaining and to work with all our unions to reach collective agreements without a labour disruption,” Hannah-Moffat said.