Bargaining Updates
The post-doc bargaining committee met with McGill on May 24 and 26 and submitted its proposal of monetary issues, which includes a salary increase. McGill requested a 4-week period to consider the proposal. The next meeting is expected to take place in early July.

For research assistants and associates, we are scheduling bargaining sessions with McGill. Before our first session with McGill, we will meet with AMURE members to obtain approval regarding the non-monetary proposal the bargaining committee plans to submit to McGill.

Vacation Time
A reminder to all non-casual AMURE members that your annual paid vacation amount reset on June 1^st. The amount of paid vacation you are entitled to increases with the number of years you have worked at McGill. If you have been in continuous service at McGill for less than a year, you are entitled to one quarter of a week (1.25 days) for each complete month of service as of May 31^st. This increases to 3 weeks, 4, weeks, and 5 weeks of annual paid vacation once you have been in continuous service for 1 year, 3 years, and 7 years as of May 31^st, respectively.

AMURE Tip of the Month
Any injury sustained while at work or on McGill premises is recognized as a work-related accident and is eligible for compensation. For example, a fall injury is covered if it occurred at McGill, even if not where you usually perform your tasks. This insurance covers loss of salary if you need time off work, as well as compensation if the injury is permanent. You can refer to the collective agreement and the CNESST website for more information on your rights regarding work-related accidents. Please contact us as soon as possible in the event you sustain an injury while on McGill premises.

Preferential Insurance Rates for AMURE members
A reminder that AMURE members have access to exclusive group rates for home and auto insurance rates with The Personal. You can find more information about this and other benefits available to AMURE members on our website.

General Assembly
Thank you to all AMURE members who attended the general assembly on March 29^th. Members can refer to the minutes of the assembly on our website. You can also learn more about the elected executive and board members on our website. Of note, executive positions for the research and member education coordinator and the steward network coordinator remain vacant. AMURE members interested in these positions can contact Sean Cory at sean.cory@aerum-amure.ca.

Bargaining Updates
Bargaining for post-docs continues to advance. AMURE has 2 upcoming meetings with McGill on May 24 and May 26, during which the AMURE post-doc bargaining committee hopes to submit its proposal of monetary issues to McGill.

The bargaining team for research assistants and research associates is meeting on May 20 to finalize the non-monetary proposal that AMURE will submit to McGill. This will be followed by a meeting with all research assistants and associates to vote on the proposal. Please stay tuned for an invitation to that meeting. 

MUNACA Strike
The collective agreement of the McGill University’s Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA) expired in November 2018, and the union and McGill have yet to agree on a new one. Most recently, MUNACA members voted to go on strike on April 20 and 21. The strike was a result of McGill’s proposal to drastically reduce the maximum salary of MUNACA members, as well as reduce their annual step increases. You can read more about the strike and the reasons behind it on MUNACA’s website and in an article published by the McGill Tribune. 

AMURE Tip of the Month
Are you feeling unwell and unable to go into work? Quebec law guarantees you a minimum of 2 sick days per year. However, there is no maximum number of sick days stipulated in our collective agreement, and it’s up to your supervisor to grant them when needed. You should also know that short-term disability kicks in for regular (non-casual) employees after 2 consecutive days off due to illness. Short-term disability can also be used after several non-consecutive days off due to the same condition, for example if you suffer from sporadic migraines. To receive this benefit, you need to have a physician complete a statement of disability. Please don’t hesitate to contact us any time you’re facing uncertainty when it comes to sick leave. 

PSAC’s 2022 Scholarship Program Now Open
The application process for the 2022 PSAC Scholarship Program is now open, with a deadline of June 24, 2022. Learn more here. 

Meet your fellow AMURE members
Tired of all the Zooming and hoping to socialize in person? Stay tuned for upcoming union events (summer barbeque anyone?). 

Dear Members, AMURE’s Annual General Meeting is March 29th at 5:30pm over zoom.

The agenda is as follows:

1. Call to Order
2. Adoption of Agenda
3. Adoption of Minutes from last general assembly (July 3rd, 2019)
4. AMURE Updates
5. Budget presentations
   1. 2019-2021 report
   2. 2022 proposed budget
6. Resolutions
   1. 2022-G1 – Divestment (LINK)
   2. 2022-G2 – Bylaw Updates, Remuneration and pay equity for AMURE executives. (LINK)
7. Election of Executive (To see descriptions of the positions, please view the bylaws)
   1. President
   2. Grievances Coordinator
   3. Treasurer
   4. Member Communication Coordinator
   5. Mobilization and Outreach Coordinator
   6. Research and Member Education Coordinator
   7. Steward Network Coordinator
8. Election of Board Members (12 board members)
9. Election of auditors (2)
10. Adjournment

Meeting Documents (see below):

• MINUTES OF LAST ASSEMBLY / PROCES-VERBAL DE LA DERNIERE ASSEMBLE
• BUDGET REPORT/RAPORT 2019-2021 and BUDGET 2022
• RESOLUTION 2022-G1 – Divestment / Désinvestissement
• RESOLUTION 2022-G2 – Bylaw updates (Remuneration and pay equity for AMURE executives)

Dear postdocs,

We are pleased to announce that we have officially begun negotiations for postdocs with our employer, McGill University! 

Our bargaining team met with the university’s representatives Thursday, June 3^rd to present our initial package of proposals. 

Our proposals were strongly ratified by members at a meeting held Wednesday. You will find a summary of these proposals, as well as the actual proposed changes to our collective agreement language attached. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

The university also presented their proposals, which were primarily updates to reflect changes in labour legislation but McGill also included a proposal that excludes postdocs from the 9 sick days offered to other employees.

We’ve heard from you that some of the most important issues you are facing are: low wages, job insecurity, administrative issues with visas and your pay, lack of vacation and professional development. 

We can fix these problems! But we will need your help. Please join us at our next meeting to talk about how we win improvements to our working conditions through negotiations. 

This meeting will be held Wednesday, July 7^th from 12-1pm. Please RSVP to join us.

Your bargaining team,

Mazen Bahadi, Bargaining Team Member

Sneha Shankar, Bargaining Team Member

Sean Corey, Local President

Erin Sirett, Negotiator, PSAC