Winter 2025 Newsletter

Welcome back!

I hope you had a wonderful, restful and recharging break.

This winter break I was able to step away from my computer and email. The University’s closure helped to reduce the influx of messages, for which I was grateful, and it gave me the time to realize that I was exhausted from a busy fall semester. With the quieting of email, I took time to reflect on my personal and professional priorities for 2025. I thought carefully about how I plan to navigate what will inevitably be a politically, socially and economically turbulent start to the year.

Here’s where I landed: I will do my very best to be more patient, more respectful, more kind and more understanding, because many around us are struggling and fighting for their livelihood and lives.

Because universities are rightly and necessarily places where diversity of thought and lived experiences exist and thrive, we inevitably will debate rigorously, discuss thoughtfully and disagree profoundly. While we do this, let us not forget to respect the dignity of those around us—regardless of whether we agree or disagree with them.

In 2025, while we teach, grade, mentor, research, write, edit and serve; while we stand up for what we believe in, and stand with those who need us, let’s lead with empathy, humility and respect.

I wish you the very best in all that you do over the coming year. Have a great semester!

Regards,

Patrizia Albanese
Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs

Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association

Term of Agreement

• The collective bargaining process concluded with two days of Interest Arbitration in April having earlier spent two days in mediation in the preceding December. Arbitrator William Kaplan issued an award on July 16, 2024
• The renewal collective agreement is a three year contract ending June 30, 2026.

Compensation Improvements

• The award provided for compensation increases including annual across-the-board increases of 3.5%, 3% and 3% retro to July 1, 2023.  
• Effective July 1, 2024, the amount for overload teaching by TFA has been increased from $6,300 to $8,300;
• There are also benefit improvements and some process changes.

CUPE Local 3904, Unit 3

Collective Bargaining

• Unit 3 represents graduate assistants and undergraduate assistants, as well as invigilators and lab monitors.
• The parties negotiated through this past summer and reached a settlement at the end of August, which was last ratified on October 22, 2024.
• The parties agreed to use a standard term of Academic Assistants from the prior terminology of Teaching Assistant/Graduate Assistant.

Compensation Increases

• The parties agreed to shift the annual compensation cyle from January 1 to December 31, to September 1 to August 31.  With that shift, there was an ATB increase effective January 1, 2024 and again on September 1, 2024, with subsequent ATB increases occurring on September 1, 2025, and 2026.
• The ATB increases were 3.5% January 2024, then 2.5% in each of September 2024, 2025 and 2026.
• There are benefit improvements and some language changes.

CUPE Local  3904, Unit One and Two

Unit One

• Unit One represents contract lecturers teaching day credit courses
• The parties have met twelve times since October 1, 2024 and are making progress towards a renewal agreement.
• We have several bargaining dates into 2025. 

Unit Two

• Unit Two represents contract lecturers teaching in the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
• Shortly after Unit One bargaining concludes, we will enter into negotiations with Unit Two, likely in February.

 Academic Leadership @ TMU workshop series (for academic leaders)

Join us for events and workshops throughout the year to support you in your role and network with colleagues from across TMU. This event is for academic leaders at TMU.

 Thriving in Academia workshop series (for all faculty and academic staff)

Join us for conversations on teaching and SRC at Toronto Metropolitan University. Learn about the supports available, have your questions answered and meet colleagues from across the university. This series is open to all faculty and academic staff.

 Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment and Evaluation (for hiring, tenure and promotion committees)

Explore important issues and concepts related to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the recruitment, tenure and promotion processes in these workshops offered by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs in collaboration with partners from across the university.