Resources

Our 2021-2025 Collective Agreement can be viewed or downloaded via the links below. If you have questions about the Collective Agreement, please get in touch with our executive members.

CUPE 3287 2021-2025 Collective Agreement (PDF, 235 kb.)

CUPE 3287 2021-2025 Collective Agreement (University web site)

If you are a new member, or are returning to the union after a period of absence, please copy the membership oath located in the box below, paste it in the comment section, and affirm it by checking off the affirmation statement.

I promise to support and obey the Constitution of this Union, to work to improve the economic and social conditions of other members and other workers, to defend and work to improve the democratic rights and liberties of workers and that I will not purposely or knowingly harm or assist in harming another member of the Union.

Alternatively, you can fill out a membership form (pdf, 134 kb.) and return it to our office, either by mail or by sending a scan of the completed document to cupe3287@gmail.com.

Job Postings and Application Forms

Applications for Employment

Current sessional lecturer postings are listed on the University of Saskatchewan’s Careers website (Click on the “Current Opportunities” tab. Despite the site’s prompt, you do not have to login in order to view the postings).

If you click on “apply” while viewing a particular posting, a downloadable application form, usable for either early or current applications, will appear. Postings are open for only one week starting on the Wednesday indicated. However, an early application can be filed in advance of any particular posting. An early application ensures priority consideration for any last minute postings or if you forget to track the actual postings.

For University of Saskatchewan employees, the current and early application for employment form is available online. You may need to need to enter your NSID and password in order to access this form. If you have not yet taught a course at the U of S, you can access a hard copy of the application for employment [MS Word, 73 kb.]. We encourage you to contact the department to which you wish to apply directly in order to introduce yourself and ask any question you may have regarding the position for which you are applying..

Always apply in writing to teach a course. If you are asked by your department to teach a course, always follow up with a written account to them of what and when you are willing to teach. Please note also that verbal offers likely are not legally binding on the employer, so make sure you get a letter of offer from the university in a timely manner. Applications to teach a course should be submitted to the academic department responsible for the course.

Right of First Refusal

A sessional lecturer who has taught the same course three times in the space of four years is usually eligible to request Right of First Refusal (ROFR). Right of First Refusal means that the applicant will be hired when the course is posted on a Sessional basis (unless another applicant has Right of First Refusal and more priority). Application for ROFR should be submitted to the Dean of the College in which the department resides. The Dean’s office then will consult the department. You can access the following forms online (click on “More” under “Find Forms and More”):

Right of First Refusal (MS Word document, NSID login required)
Right of First Refusal – Extension of Maintenance (MS Word document, NSID login required)
Right of First Refusal – Reinstatement (MS Word document, NSID login required)

Right of first refusal expires if the course is not taught for two years.

The Department Priority List is accessible online (external link — NSID login required).

Funds and Benefits

Academic Participation/Professional Development and Tuition Waiver Fund

CUPE 3287 members are encouraged to apply for professional development funds, including the Academic Participation/Professional Development fund and the Tuition Waiver fund. Since July 2017 these funds have been combined and are administered directly by the Union.

The Winter 2025 Competition will open in January (February 28th deadline)

Note: In the Winter competition round of last year, we were able to at least partially fund all applications to the combined Fund. However, this has left the Fund significantly depleted heading into the Fall 2024 competition. The University has repeatedly refused requests to increase the fund according to need. Accordingly, in May of this year the Executive Board decided that tuition waivers will not be offered in the the Fall 2024 competition so as to help ensure that sufficient funds are available for Academic Participation/Professional Development (AP/PD) applications. Part of the Board’s rationale in making this decision is that while our graduate student members have access to tuition support from a variety of sources, most of our members do not have access to alternative funding sources for AP/PD projects. At our November 2024 board meeting, the board decided that our fund still needed to be replenished. Unfortunately, we will not be providing tuition waivers again in Winter 2025.

Fund Guidelines

Please read these guidelines in full before applying for the fund: AP/PD/TW Fund guidelines [PDF, 160KB]

To apply for academic participation/professional development funds
- Academic Participation/Professional Development Application Form [DOCX, 90 KB]

Applications must be submitted electronically to cupe3287grants@gmail.com, cc’d to cupe3287@gmail.com.

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Sessional Lecturers have access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, providing confidential counselling, legal support, and financial planning resources. Training Services provides online and instructor-led software training courses.

Health, Dental, and Life Insurance Benefits

Visit the University of Saskatchewan’s Human Resources website for information about funds and benefits available to sessional lecturers.

Benefits Summary

Please Note: Under our current benefits plan, health and dental benefits are provided during the term of your appointment only. (i.e., up to the last day of appointment indicated in your most recent letter of offer). You should bear this in mind, e.g., when filling prescriptions and when scheduling dental appointments or other procedures.

Employer Proposal Eligibility

University of Saskatchewan employees in-scope of CUPE 3287 who are not eligible under the University’s other benefits programs.

Commencement of Coverage

Effective September 1, 2016 coverage begins on the initial appointment date as stated in your letter of offer.

Basic Life

Basic Life Insurance $30,000 during the course of the appointment(s)

Dental

Dental Coverage – 100% of Basic Dental Coverage, member only, up to $2,000 per calendar year Basic Dental Services include:
Preventative Dental Procedures
- Complete exam once every three benefit years
- Recall exam once every five months, to a maximum of two exams per benefit year
- Emergency or specific exams limited to two per benefit year per type of exam
- Complete series of X-rays or one panorex once every three benefit years
- Bitewing x-ray once every five months, to a maximum of two sets per benefit year
- Radiograph to diagnose or examine progress
- Required consultations with another dentist
- Polishing/cleaning and topical fluoride treatment every five months, to a maximum of two per benefit year
- Emergency or palliative services
- Diagnostics tests and lab exams
- Removal of impacted teeth and anesthesia
- Space maintainers for primary teeth
- Pit and fissure sealants
- Oral hygiene instruction once per benefit year

Basic Procedures
- Fillings:
  - Amalgam (silver)
  - Composite (white) on all teeth — Acrylic (replaced by composite)
- Removal of teeth (except impacted teeth)
- Prefab metal restorations/crowns and repairs (not custom made) A prefabricated crown that is intended for long-term use (and not in conjunction with the placement of a permanent crown) would be eligible under the plan
- Endodontics (root canal therapy/fillings, treat disease of pulp tissue)
- Periodontics (treatment of bone and gum disease)
- Surgery and related anesthesia (except removal of impacted teeth)
- Repair of bridges or dentures
- Rebase or reline denture

Pre-treatment Plan

If your dentist recommends any dental procedure that is expected to cost over $500 you should have your dentist complete a pre-treatment plan. Submit this plan to the insurer and you will be advised of the benefits payable for the course of treatment. Submitting a pre-treatment plan ensures that there are no misunderstandings about what reimbursement you will received for expensive courses of treatment.

Health/Drug Coverage

Drug Coverage for you and your dependents -100% coverage for up to a maximum of $2,000 per person per calendar year subject to the drug formulary.
Direct pay drug card, with mandatory generic substitutions.

Note: Termination of Coverage

Coverage will cease upon the end date of the appointment as stated in the letter of offer.

Other Resources

CUPE Local 3287 Bylaws

CUPE Local 3287 Bylaws (2023) [PDF, 415 kb.]

Web Resources

CUPE National (our umbrella organization)
- CUPE Constitution
University of Saskatchewan (our employer)
- University of Saskatchewan Employment Agreements
University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association (USFA)
Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association (ASPA)
Saint Thomas More Faculty Union (including STM Sessional Lecturers)

Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning

The Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning provides free support to sessionals that is focused on course design, instruction, and assessment. You can access the following:

Register for a workshop.
Learn to use teaching technologies like Canvas (the learning management system) or Poll Everywhere (for formative assessment).
Complete a Certificate in University Teaching and Learning to add to your resume or teaching portfolio.
Learn what is required by policy and get help designing a syllabus based on USask’s Syllabus template or using the syllabus generator within Canvas.
Overview for new instructors at USask: https://teaching.usask.ca/teaching-support/teaching-at-usask.php
Find common how to teach tips by searching Educatus.
Review the teaching website by navigating through the top headers for information and resources related to teaching at USask.
Set up a one-to-one consultation based on your teaching needs by emailing us!
Get support from the library https://library.usask.ca/support/teaching.php
Library services for sessionals https://library.usask.ca/use-the-library/services/sessional-lecturers.php#Libraryaccess

Financial Statements / Reports

Are available in the Union office (McLean Hall 35) for inspection by members.

Union Forms

CUPE Expense Voucher [MS Word]
CUPE Expense Voucher [PDF]

Minutes

Agendas