Memo to Students

CUPEU on strike since Wednesday, September 4th

CUPEU is on strike and we want to clear some things up! University communications would have you believe that despite 600+ staff members being on strike, things are status quo on campus. Here’s the real deal:

Who is CUPEU? We are a diverse group of professionals that includes IT technicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, researchers, career advisors, academic advisors, admissions officers, and knowledge producers of various kinds.

How will the CUPEU strike impact students? 

  • You will not have access to important academic advising.
  • Your access to medical care, including psychological services, will be limited– directly impacting your ability to thrive and to succeed in your courses.
  • Your access to IT support will be significantly reduced, with much longer wait times.
  • You will not have access to career advising. 
  • Counselling and Psychological Services – your psychologists are on strike!
  • Sexual Assault Resource Center – the staff is on strike!
  • Access Center for Students with Disabilities – your advisors are on strike!
  • International Students Office – your ISO advisors are on strike!

Why are we striking?
For over a year, the university has refused to negotiate on the most important issue to our members: hybrid work. Currently, hybrid work isn’t applied evenly to all CUPEU members, even for those who do the same type of work. This is not equitable; we want to develop consistent hybrid rules that are written into our Collective Agreement.

Due to the university’s outright refusal to discuss this, negotiations have stalled. In January 2024, we initiated a work-to-rule mandate but progress failed to materialize. In May 2024, ~75% of our union members voted in favor of a two-week strike mandate. Following the announcement of our intention to strike on Friday, August 23 the university finally came to the negotiation table, just days before our strike was planned to start. 

On Sept. 2, 2024, the university presented a global offer to CUPEU. This offer outlined the university’s intention to create committees that would investigate which roles could carry out hybrid work. There was no deadline for a final report or decision, no accountability measures, and no real commitments. This was disappointing and unacceptable to our membership and CUPEU members voted against the offer. Given the ongoing lack of fair negotiation in good faith, we had no choice but to strike.

What are our demands?
We are demanding that hybrid work be guaranteed in our Collective Agreement, with a minimum of 40% of work being done from home (2 days per week), depending on each job profile’s tasks and responsibilities.

How can students support the CUPEU strike?

We want to get back to work and back to supporting you as soon as possible! Here’s how you can help ensure our strike is short and successful:

  1. Follow us on Instagram! @cupeustrike
    Share photos, videos, and memes in support of the strike and tag @cupeustrike and @concordiauniversity
  2. Voice your discontent by email! 
    Click here to send an email to Concordia administrators with decision-making power, urging them to negotiate a fair deal with us as quickly as possible. Let them know how you feel about the future of hybrid work at an institution that claims to be a “next-generation university”, as well as the sustainability impacts remote work could have based on Concordia’s own 2019 Climate Action Plan (five years ago, this report recommended hybrid options for staff as a means of reducing Concordia’s carbon footprint).
  1. Voice your discontent by telephone!
    Call and leave a message for administrators and HR leadership, urging them to end this strike quickly and by negotiating a fair hybrid work solution now! You could also request a partial refund of the student fees you will be paying for days when you won’t have full student services.
  • Graham Carr, President: 514-848-2424 ext 4849
  • Michael Di Grappa, VP, Services and Sustainability: 514-848-2424 ext 4815
  • Pascale Sicotte, Dean of Arts & Science: 514-848-2424 ext 2080
  • Anne-Marie Croteau, Dean of JMSB: 514-848-2424 ext 2983
  • Mourad Debbabi, Dean of Gina Cody School: 514-848-2424 ext 3166
  • Annie Gérin, Dean of Fine Arts: 514-848-2424 ext 4614
  • Carolina Willsher, Associate Vice President, Human Resources: 514-848-2424 ext 3686
  • Pierre Claude Bourke, Manager, Employee and Labour Relations: 514-848-2424 ext 3558
  • Sylvie Côté, Executive Director, Employee and Labour Relations: 514-848-2424 ext 2976
  1. Encourage your professors to support the CUPEU strike and respect our picket lines!

Ask your professors how you can support the CUPEU strike collectively as a class.

  1. Join our picket line!
    Consider joining our picket line for a couple hours each day to show your solidarity and support. Bring noise makers and your student association signs!