What We Do

Here is the way we operate our Union.

What do unions do?

Unions primarily operate in three different ways:

  1. As mechanisms to regulate the labour market through collective bargaining.

  2. As political vehicles for working people’s interests, through lobbying as well as creating and/or interacting with political parties.

  3. As socially integrative institutions, by connecting members to broader social movements.

As a union, CUPE has traditionally prioritized protecting the workplace rights of its members through workplace advocacy, and securing agreements with employers that establish wages, working conditions, workplace safety (including being safe from harassment and bullying), job security, and benefits. 

However, CUPE members also organize themselves to address racism, sexism, and ableism in their workplace AND in their union. Union members also support other social movement organizations, often by participating in their events collectively, such as Pride parades or climate change protests. 

Through the democratic process of our local, any group of members can harness the collective power of their union around social, economic, or environmental issues.

 

  • Bargaining

    Our working conditions are regulated through a collective agreement, which is negotiated between ourselves as a union and representatives of the UBC Board of Governors.

  • Workplace advocacy

    We have a network of representatives and activists across our campuses who can be contacted when members feel their rights may have been violated.

  • Political Action

    Union members often organize themselves to take collective action on social, economic, and environmental issues that are of vital concern to us.

 

 1.Bargaining

 

The working conditions of CUPE 2278 members are regulated through a collective agreement, which is negotiated between ourselves as a union and representatives of the UBC Board of Governors. The collective agreement regulates the working conditions of employees and the duties of the employer. These conditions include wages, job security, and benefits of members such as sick leave and access to various hardship funds.

A collective agreement is a fixed-term agreement, and we begin negotiations for a new collective agreement shortly before the previous one expires. Because UBC and UNBC are public universities, the provincial government is the unseen actor in our negotiations. Through the Public Sector Employers’ Council (PSEC), the provincial government manages overall compensation and human resources policies in quasi-public sector employers, such as universities, community health and social service agencies, and public school boards. The length of our collective agreements, and the overall compensation employers such as universities are supposed to agree to are mandated by PSEC under the threat of reduced funding. 

Our negotiating committee is made up of elected members of the union. They are supported by our local Advocate, as well as CUPE National Staff Representatives. If you are interested in negotiations, get in touch!

2.Workplace advocacy

Of course, a contract is meaningless if it is not enforced. We have a network of representatives and activists across our campuses who can be contacted when members feel their rights may have been violated.

Our union employs professional staff to assist us in making sure administrators and faculty abide by our agreement, UBC policy, and relevant legislation such as the BC Human Rights Code and the BC Workers Compensation Act. 

When we feel that our rights have not been respected, and our efforts to have our concerns addressed informally have not succeeded, we have a formal grievance system mandated by provincial law and articulated in our agreement. A grievance is a formal complaint, filed by the union on behalf of a member. If the union and the employer are unable to resolve a grievance, the union has the right to take the matter to an independent, third-party arbitrator.  

If you have a problem with your TAship, please contact your department representative and/or the union Advocate as soon as possible so that we can help you.  Our Advocate can be reached at advocate@cupe2278.ca. Consultations with the union staff are confidential.

3.Political Action

Union members often organize themselves to take collective action on social, economic, and environmental issues that are of vital concern to us. Much of our political organizing is done through our relationships with other CUPE locals, through CUPE National, CUPE BC and other unions through the Canadian Labour Congress, and its local body, the Vancouver & District Labour Council. Our local sends delegates to each of these bodies.