Welcome (back) Unit 2 members of CUPE 4600, the largest union on campus! As a member of CUPE 4600, you are part of a strong collective of over 3000 education workers who keep the university running. Here are a few things to keep in mind as we start the new academic year.
- Get to know your union: CUPE 4600 represents all teaching assistants, internally-funded research assistants, and service assistants (Unit 1), and contract instructors (Unit 2) at Carleton University.
- Get to know your Unit 2 Collective Agreement: Your collective agreement outlines your rights, responsibilities, and benefits as a CI. For an overview of your Collective Agreement see the Contract Instructor Handbook.
- Health and dental benefits are administered through CanBen. All Contract Instructors are eligible for these benefits, you will receive enrollment details directly to your inbox.
- Changes to the Professional Development Fund: Unit 2 members can apply for funds to support their professional development or support teaching related costs. The Fund is now administered fully by the Union, and applications can be submitted via a Google Form or fillable PDF found on our website.
- Note on Previously Denied Claims: In the past, Contract Instructors have been unfairly denied access to the professional development fund. To address this issue, all CIs who have had an application denied in the past two years can resubmit that denied claim up until December 15th 2026. See our website for more.
- The new application forms will open as of September 1, 2026
- Applications for Accommodations: If you are applying for an accommodation of any kind, be sure to include CUPE 4600 (info@cupe4600.ca) on the application. Remember: all employers in Ontario are legally required to meet accommodation requests from their employees to the point of “undue hardship.”
- Stay up-to-date on Union matters: bookmark our Events Calendar, Follow our instagram, and keep an eye out for the bi-weekly union-wide digest, and monthly update emails for Unit 2 Members.
- Not getting our emails? If you have previously unsubscribed from our email distribution list, you may be missing out! Contact us (info@cupe4600.ca) to get back on the list.
Help update our list of Stewards!
One of our goals is to refresh, renew, and expand our Steward list. If you have been, or wish to be a Department Steward, please check in with us by emailing our Chief Steward, Mark Blenkinsop at ci.chief.steward@cupe4600.ca. Positive check-in and confirmation from current stewards is required. Thanks to all who have already contacted us – we look forward to hearing from anyone wishing to join!
What a steward does:
- Stays in touch with fellow CIs in your department
- Keeps an ear out for what everyone is saying
- Stays in the know on the union, and keeps us in the know behind the scenes
- Earns an honorarium
- Joins our group chat
In solidarity,
VP Unit 2
Mark Blenkinsop, Chief Steward Unit 2 |
