The Union was the first legally recognised union of TAs in North America. On June 6, 1973 a group of seven (7) TAs met to form what later became CUPE 3902.
The office of the Vice-Dean, Faculty oversees Unit 3 and Unit 5.
A brief chronology of the Local
1973
TAs at Victoria University granted a certificate as Local One, Graduate Assistants’ Association (GAA)
1974
Arts Departments transferred from the Colleges to the UofT; the Victoria unit ceased to have employees and representation rights lapsed
1975
Local Two, GAA certified at the main UofT campus after a long legal battle and a certification vote
1975-80
Certifications issued for York (now Local 3903 of CUPE), Ryerson (now 3904), Lakehead (3905), McMaster (3906) and graduate assistants at OISE (3907)
1980
The GAA renamed the Canadian Union of Educational Workers (CUEW)
1980-94
Certifications issued for Trent (3908), Manitoba (3909), Ottawa (which disaffiliated in 1992), Athabasca (3911), Dalhousie (3912) and Guelph (3913).
1994
Merger between CUEW and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
2004
Certification of Unit 2, comprised of TAs, Sessional Lecturers and Writing Instructors’ at Victoria University
2004
Certification of Unit 3, comprised of Sessional Lecturers, Sessional Instructional Assistants, Writing Instructors and Music Instructors at the main UofT campus
2009
Application for certification as the bargaining agent for Postdoctoral Fellows at the UofT submitted to the Ontario Labour Relations Board
2011
Certification of Unit 4, comprised of TAs, Sessional Lecturers, Writing Instructors and Continuing Education Instructors at the University of St. Michael’s College
2013
Certification of Unit 5, Postdoctoral Fellows receiving funding from the University of Toronto