CUPE 4163 (Component 3) bargaining

Dec. 14, 2022

Further to our update on Nov. 29, the UVic Board of Governors and the members of CUPE Local 4163 (Component 3) have now ratified a new agreement under government’s Shared Recovery Mandate.

Component 3 of CUPE Local 4163 represents approximately 830 employees working at UVic as sessional instructors, music performance instructors and practicum supervisors.

The ratified agreement includes:

  • Three-year term – May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2025
  • General wage increases:
    • Year 1 – a flat increase of $0.25/hour, which provides a greater percentage increase for lower-paid employees, plus a wage increase of 3.24%
    • Year 2 – 5.5% plus a potential Cost of Living Adjustment to a maximum of 6.75%
    • Year 3 – 2% plus a potential Cost of Living Adjustment to a maximum of 3%
  • A negotiable Flexibility Allocation of up to 0.25% in years 1 and 2 to support mutually beneficial outcomes for both parties. Some of the Flexibility Allocation was directed to a targeted wage and salary grid adjustment for Music Performance Instructors and a modest increase to Step 6 of the Sessional Lecture salary grid.
  • In addition to negotiating changes aimed at streamlining administrative and appointment processes, both parties worked hard to embed demonstrable commitments to inclusion and reconciliation, including:
    • Adding a Territorial Acknowledgement to the introduction in the agreement.
    • Adding the Day for Truth and Reconciliation to the list of paid statutory holidays.
    • Adding leave with pay for Indigenous employees of up to two days per calendar year to participate in or attend ceremonial gatherings or cultural activities to fulfil their cultural obligations.
    • Improving supplementary benefits while on maternity/parental leave when both parents of a child are regular employees.
    • Incorporating gender-inclusive contract language throughout the agreement.

Thank you to both bargaining teams for such a collaborative and successful bargaining experience. More details about the agreement will be shared with academic and administrative units in the coming weeks.

This is the first of six renewed collective agreements on campus. Visit the bargaining website for more information about collective bargaining at UVic and across the broader public sector.