Top 10 things graduate students need to know about the CUPE 3906, Unit 1, strike

1. McMaster will remain open during the strike
The campus will remain open and services and supports for students will be available. Picket lines are expected at the main entrances to campus. Please leave plenty of extra time to get to campus.

2. Graduate courses will continue as planned during the strike
Students will be notified by their instructors with as much advance notice as possible if there are changes to the schedule, delivery or course activities.

3. Student health and wellness services will continue to be available
All services and supports listed on the graduate community resources page will continue to be offered, including wellness and mental health supports

4. The libraries will stay open
Campus library services will continue to be available during normal operating hours.

5. Students are expected to submit assignments, meet deadlines and continue with research and clinical activities to meet program requirements 
Students will be contacted by their course instructors with as much advance notice as possible if there are changes to the format of assignments or to deadlines. All academic expectations around research, labs and clinical settings remain in place.

6. Exams will continue to be held
Assume that your exams, including in courses, comprehensive exams and defences, will continue as planned unless other information is received directly from your instructor, supervisor, program Chair/Director, SGS or through a platform an instructor uses in your course, such as Avenue to Learn. It is a student’s responsibility to be aware of changes.

7. Students are responsible to get to classes, labs, clinical assignments as scheduled  
Give yourself additional time to get to and from campus during the strike. Please contact your instructor for support if you are delayed or miss a lecture. If campus access impacts your attendance at a committee meeting, examination, clinical activity or research meeting, please contact your supervisor or program chair.

8. Be patient and polite when coming onto campus
During the strike, expect picket lines at some of the entry points to campus and anticipate significant delays. We thank our community members for respecting one another. The safety of everyone, including picketers, is paramount. We are one community and value everyone at McMaster.

9. Bus routes will change
HSR busses will not be coming onto campus during the strike and will pick up and drop off passenger at stops close to campus. See their website for details. GO buses will continue to use campus.  Expect delays on public transit.

10. Stay informed Updates can be found on the university’s Labour Updates Information will also be shared with students over email, their course pages on Avenue to Learn and over the university’s social media channels.