We Did It!
On Friday, January 12, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) issued the certificate confirming the unionized status of UWaterloo Graduate TAs and RAs. This is an incredible achievement and everyone had an important role to play - this was truly a team effort!
From the group of UW academic workers who met with union organizers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) years ago, to the many OrganizeUW volunteers and supporters who have contributed since then in so many important ways, to the Fall 2023 TAs and RAs who voted in an overwhelming majority - over 90% - we have our union!
Together, we are the union.
The success of our new union is ultimately dependent on each of us. Our experience and our knowledge of our own workplace is invaluable, as is our individual contribution to our new union.
Soon we'll have our first union meeting where we can elect our own union leaders from among our co-workers. Prior to that, we'll send out more information on the elected positions and other ways to be part of shaping and building our new union.
If you're a graduate TA or RA who's working this term (Winter 2024) or who worked last term (Fall 2023), and you haven't been receiving our updates to your personal email address, you can sign up to be contacted via our sign-up form or by emailing organizeuw@joincupe.org.
Committee to Organize UWaterloo
supported by CUPE
The Committee to Organize UWaterloo is a grassroots campaign to unionize the academic workers at the University of Waterloo. The campaign is supported by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Canada's largest union.