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Bargaining Update: All Three Units Concludes First Round of Negotiations
Sept 3, 2025
Over the past month, your bargaining committees have been busy preparing for and holding our first round of negotiations with the employer. The committees for all three units—Part-Time Retail, Part-Time Warehouse, and Full-Time Warehouse—have now met the employer at the table. Below you’ll find a detailed update on our progress, information about our upcoming townhall on Tuesday, September 9th, and details on our united petition.
These negotiations are guided by the priorities you identified in our survey: wages, respect and dignity, improved leave and benefits, equal pay for equal work, and fair scheduling. Furthermore, 100% of you supported the strategy of bargaining together.
Unit-Specific Progress
Part-Time Retail & Warehouse Units:
- Paid Sick Days: Both part-time units have made gains on securing employer-paid sick days.
- PT to FT Conversions: The Warehouse committee is making progress on a pathway for part-time staff to convert to full-time positions.
- Protecting Jobs: We served the employer a formal notice to end their improper use of temporary employees, which violates our collective agreement.
Full-Time Unit:
- Improved Benefits: We have tabled proposals for increases to vision, dental, and extended health care coverage.
- More Vacation: We are pushing to reduce the number of years it takes to reach 25 vacation days and have proposed clearer language for how vacation is administered. The employer has responded with an unacceptable proposal to establish a 3-month “peak period” where only three employees could be on vacation at once. We are fighting this.
- Expanding the Union: We have tabled proposals to bring the Team Leads and Receiving Coordinator into the bargaining unit.
Common Gains Across All Three Tables
By coordinating our efforts, we have secured agreements with the employer on several common proposals that will strengthen rights for every worker. These include:
- Consistent language on workplace harassment and sexual violence.
- An improved and standardized grievance procedure.
- Stronger language on union representation and job-protected leave for union business.
- Improvements to the discipline and discharge process that force the employer to act in a timely manner.
- Updated requirements for information the employer must provide to the Union.
- An expanded definition of “immediate family” for bereavement leave.
The Sticking Point: Wages
At all three tables, we remain far apart on wages. The employer’s most recent offer is a yearly increase of 2.5%, 2.5%, and 2.0% over a three-year contract.
Your committees have countered with a proposal for 4%, 3.5%, and 3.5%.
Next Steps: Member Townhall and Petition
Winning a strong contract requires all of us working together. Here are the immediate next steps for every member:
Join the All-Members Townhall
On Tuesday, September 9, will be hosting two virtual Townhalls where you’ll have the opportunity to hear a detailed report from your bargaining committees, ask questions, and discuss our strategy and next steps.
- When: Tuesday, September 9th at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm (attend one)
- What: A full bargaining update and Q&A session.
Take Action by Signing Our United Petition
The most important action you can take right now is to show your support. Starting this week, we are launching a petition across all three units to send a clear message to management that all workers at Press deserve fair wages and fair treatment.
Members of your bargaining committees and the Contract Action Team will circulate with the petition and/or call you, so please be ready to add your name.
Upcoming Bargaining Dates
While we are making steady progress, our real strength comes from you. We need your unity and participation to build the power your bargaining committees need to win a fair contract when we return to the table. Our next bargaining dates are scheduled for the end of September and early October:
- September 29: Part-Time Retail Unit
- October 1: Part-Time Warehouse Unit
- October 3: Full-Time Unit
Bargaining Update
July 9, 2025
We’re pleased to confirm our first negotiation dates with the employer:
- Part-Time Retail Unit (Bookstore): July 29 & 30
- Part-Time Warehouse Unit: August 12 & 13
- Full-Time Warehouse Unit: August 20 & 21
This round of bargaining is different. For the first time in recent memory, all three U of T Press units are going into negotiations at the same time. This gives us a real opportunity to build power and fight for the changes we all want to see.
Employer Rejects United Bargaining
The bargaining committees of all three units agreed to join together in a united front. As a result, we made a formal request to U of T Press to bargain as one, citing the fact that many of us do the same work, report to the same supervisors, face the same issues, and work side-by-side. Unsurprisingly, the employer rejected that request and insists we bargain separately.
But we know that unity doesn’t depend on what table we sit at — it depends on what we do together. We have seen this before. In 2023–24, three CUPE 3261 units joined forces during bargaining. U of T forced them to bargain separately, but they continued to coordinate as one. They later joined with two units from CUPE 3902. In the final hours, with all five units sharing the same strike deadline, U of T agreed to meet with all five teams at one table. We presented a unified final offer and settled as one. The result was one of the strongest contracts we have ever won.
Negotiations aren’t won at the table — they’re won in the workplace. It doesn’t matter how many proposals we write or how well we argue. What matters is how organized and united we are as workers.
Contract Action Team (CAT)
We’re currently putting together our Contract Action Teams (CAT) — a group of workers from each workplace who help build power by keeping members engaged in the bargaining process.
CAT’s help share updates from the committees and relay questions or concerns from coworkers. It also involves things like helping distribute flyers or having short conversations during your shift or breaks. It’s low-pressure and there is no expectation to do anything outside work hours.
Some members have already signed up, but we’re hoping to build a strong team in every workplace. If you’re interested in being a CAT, sign up here.
💪 United, We Win!
If you have any questions or would like to get more involved in negotiations, please do not hesitate to contact your Unit Representative, Chris Stanford at press@cupe3261.ca
Your Bargaining Committees
Warehouse FT:
- Steve Parker
- Edward Jose
- Chris Stanford
- Luke Daccord
Warehouse PT:
- Joseph Borland
- Bheverly Banaag
- Chris Stanford
- Luke Daccord
Retail PT (Bookstore):
- Chris Stanford
- Luke Daccord