Local History and Archive

Our union local was formed by teaching assistants at UBC over forty years ago. Read on to learn about a few of the significant moments in our history.

1978

Formed as the Association of Teaching Assistants (ATA)

December 11 – Strike vote introduced in membership meeting over the issue of Union Security (“shop clause”).

1979

ATA Joins CUPE as Local 2278

January – Association of Teaching Assistants (ATA) begins meeting with union representatives (AUCE and CUPE) to learn more about what unionizing can do for the TAs of UBC.
Feb. 23 – ATA exec officially recommends membership with CUPE so that the organized TAs will be taken more seriously by administration. The membership votes to unionize under CUPE.
March – The ATA gets a charter to become CUPE 2278 and begins the organizing drive.

1980

We’re Legal! CUPE 2278 is recognized by the Labour Board

March – The union, CUPE 2278, is officially certified and is now a legal union which the employer is required to recognize and negotiate with.
May through September – First contract negotiations end unresolved.
October through December 8 – Negotiations occur with the aid of a mediator.
December 8 – University walks out of negotiations on the issue of Union Security (automatic enrollment in the union as a condition of employment – an important issue for 2278 because of the high turnover rate among its membership).

1981

First Collective Agreement for UBC TAs

March – First collective agreement is signed for the term of one year (1 Sept. 1980 – 31 Aug. 1981). Big accomplishments include a 14% wage increase, standardized pay rates, a grievance procedure, and overtime pay. The agreement does not include the union security clause that the union wanted.
Sept. 8 – Negotiations begin for the next contract. Issues include the aforementioned union security clause, wages, and rebates.

1987

Language Instructors at the English Language Institute form the English Language Institute Sessional Instructors Association (ELISIA)

2002/2003

Local 2278’s First Strike Vote

Strike action is loud and unorthodox. At one point UBC administration gets an injunction to make picketers and union supporters stop singing and drumming. UBC President Piper calls CUPE 2278 “tortious.” Strike leaders promptly print t-shirts proclaiming “CUPE 2278 - Tortious TAs,” with a list of their picket sites as the “Nuisance Tour.” Strikers use the driveway of the President’s residence for a street hockey tournament.

In March, the B.C. legislature takes only one day to pass Bill 21: The University of British Columbia Continuation Act , which declares the grading of term papers an ‘essential service’ and makes the strike illegal. TA’s are forced back to work, but then they defy the legislation, and the strike becomes a political protest.

Eventually, UBC’s administration returns to the table, and the union achieves an 11.5% wage increase over 3 years and saves Language Instructor medical benefits at a time of public sector wage freezes.

August 31 : Term of the Collective Agreement expires. Union is asking for wage increases, parental leave, and tuition indexing. Other campus workers have tuition waivers, and UBC TAs want them, too.

October : Bargaining getting more difficult. All the ‘non-cost’ issues had been discussed, but money matters remain unaddressed. Union members are getting worried.
November : Large membership meetings held, including one in which 400 TA’s fill the GSS ballroom. Members discuss the possibility of a strike vote. Many are angry that TA’s in Toronto and SFU are doing the same work as us but receiving higher wages, and with better work conditions.
December : Members vote 86% in favour of going on strike.

January: the union issues strike notice while on Christmas break, followed by 3.5 weeks of rotating surprise pickets around campus (using non-traditional picketing). Many groups show support: our sister unions (CUPE 116 and 2950), the labour movement, many of the faculty, even the general public.
February 25 : UBC admin takes all TA’s off payroll, even those still working.

*Infographic if timeline leading to the second strike*

March : UBC admin gets an injunction to stop picketers from singing and drumming, which raises concerns about free speech and the role of the university as place for debate
March 12 : B.C. legislature passes Bill 21: The University of British Columbia Continuation Act in one day, which declares the grading of term papers an ‘essential service’. This makes the strike illegal and forces TA’s back to work.
TA’s defy the legislation, and the strike becomes a political protest. Eventually, UBC administration returns to the table. The union wins a 11.5% wage increase over three years and saves its medical benefits at a time of public sector wage freezes.

2012

Second Strike

Spring: Executive polls membership to identify potential bargaining items for the coming round.
Fall: Department Representative training takes place as part of a broader outreach initiative to engage members across campus with Local businesses. For the first time in our collective memory, nearly every department has a union representative. Meanwhile, Local Bylaws are being reevaluated for the first time since 1994.
April 12,: We agree to enter Mediation at the BC Labour Board.
August 23-24: We receive our first monetary offer from the employer, but it is below the provincial mandate of 0,0,2,2% increases over 2010-2012.
October 10 -12: We attend more mediation dates with no substantial results.

October 25: Members vote to enact strike mandate achieved in the spring term. This second vote is held to ensure that new members of the local have a voice in the decision to withdraw our labour. 76% of members remain willing to withdraw their labour.
October 26: 72-hour strike notice served.
October 30-Nov 6 : Local 2278 on strike, using a rotating picket and select buildings for picket lines. Times and locations are announced via email and social media the night before. The Halloween Picket sees TAs in costumes handing out candy to undergrads while picketing Geography and Math.

2013

Agreement for Sept. 2010- Sept. 2014 signed

Collective agreement signed with UBC to cover September 2010-September 2014

2014

Our 35th Anniversary as CUPE 2278 and Bargaining Preparations

*Poster created to celebrate CUPE 2278’s 35th Anniversary*

2015

Bargaining with UBC for a new collective agreement

March 2015: Bargaining begins.
July 30: Collective Agreement covering 2014-2019 is ratified at a membership meeting. Major negotiations for Component I concern UTA wages, lead TA positions, tuition protection, orientations and notice of allocation of hours. This also includes a 5.5% wage increase over 5 years, reflecting the provincial government mandate at the time.