Hi, my name is Lily (she/her)! I am a Unit 1 Teaching Assistant and a Ph.D. Student at the Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, and completing a collaborative specialization in Global Health through the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. I have long been passionate about collective organizing within universities, exampled by my 8 years of service in various elected student rep positions. 

I am experienced with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3902 as a previous departmental steward, and most recent Vice—President 1 representing Unit 1 (with over 6,600 Teaching Assistants, Course Instructors, Chief Presiding Officers, Invigilators/ Peer Assistants), and Unit 7 (with around 200 Graduate Assistants at OISE). 

Some highlighted achievements since my appointment as VP1 in October 2022:

  • Dedicated funds for a Unit 7 specific initiative to train OISE Graduate Assistants on phone-banking which has increased political memberships and fund applications since the integration of Unit 7 into CUPE 3902 in 2022. 
  • Mobilized Members, Stewards, and Staff to successfully win a campaign to prevent UofT’s proposed cuts to Unit 1 health benefits (prevented the reduction of dental by 12%, elimination of vision, reduction of Health Care Spending Account by 35%).
  • Rallied at the Queens’ Park protests against Ford’s (repealed!) Bill 28’s use of the notwithstanding clause which denied the rights and freedoms of Public Employees to negotiate workplace improvements.
  • Strengthened CUPE 3902 Student Worker’s collective power by building solidarity with our fellow unionized contract workers at UofT (CUPE 1230 Library Workers, CUPE 2484 Daycare Workers, and CUPE 3261 Service Workers).
  • Improved communication networks and participation through the implementation of department-level Contact Action Teams (CATs), recruitment of Stewards, and invigoration of Local Caucuses.
  • Worked with the President, Unit 1 Lead Steward, and Staff to secure funding for bargaining. In part, funds were used to create a Member Mobilizer position, and CATs Coordinator position. 

The Unit 1 Collective Agreement expires at the end of December 2023, and this means that us as unionized Student-Workers must renegotiate our Collective Agreement with our Employer UofT. As Vice-President 1, I will be at the bargaining table with the goal of securing fairer workload and hiring standards, more job security, increased wages and benefits, better leaves, more paid training, and a more equitable workplace! 

I am prepared to continue working diligently to execute our bargaining campaign with both Unit 1 and Unit 7 Members to win at the bargaining table (above the unconstitutional 1% restraints of Ford’s repealed Bill 124!). I also understand that many Unit 7 and OISE members, while also Unit 1, are primarily OISE Graduate Assistants, and I will help keep Unit 7 fighting their fight for a just and fair education as GAs! Together, I believe we can continue to achieve more ambitious gains, including better working conditions, better wages, and better benefits, resulting in better research, and better education for all! I hope to be given the opportunity to bring my energy and skills toward serving our Membership as Vice-President 1 (Units 1 & 7)!