Unit 1 is comprised of Teaching Assistants, Marker/Graders, Lab Demonstrators, Course Coordinators, and Part-Time Instructors since CUPE 4207’s certification in 1998. Unit 1’s Collective Agreement expires on September 6th, 2025.
Unit 1 Resources
Orientation for Unit 1 Members (PDF)
Collective Agreement (PDF)
Seniority List (PDF)
Allocation of Hours Form (PDF)
Unit 1 Health & Dental Benefits Plan (link)
Unit 1 Training: Brock CPI: Teaching Assistant Program, TA workshops, Instructor development
Unit 1 Bargaining
Ongoing Unit 1 Bargaining Updates can be found here.
Bargaining Research Committee
Melissa St. Germaine-Small
Gloria Leahy
If you’d like to reach out to the BRC, you can email the team: brc@cupe4207.org
Bargaining Support Committee
Karen Hofman
Suze Tkachuk
Rebecca LaRocca
Kaho Nishibu
Melissa St-Germaine-Small
Steph Kravcik
Nicole Lemieux
Peggy Martel
If you are interested in getting involved in the Bargaining Support Committee, please email Phil Wachel – president@cupe4207.org. Any 4207 member in good standing can be on this committee, regardless of your unit.
Unit 1 Bargaining Committee
Tracy Kennedy (Committee Chair) – Instructor Representative
Hello Sisters, Brothers, and Comrades! My name is Tracy Kennedy, and I have been an Instructor at Brock for 23 years and a TA for 26 years. I have taught in six departments at Brock and at four universities across Ontario. I currently serve as VP Unit 1 Instructors for a second time. I know firsthand the challenges we all face in Unit 1 – precarious contracts, unpredictable workloads, and limited job security. I have been a vocal advocate for Unit 1 members, and a proven leader in negotiations for Instructor’s rights. In the last round of bargaining, I fought to protect Instructor’s Intellectual Property rights over their course content and secure teaching opportunities for PhD students to help build their CVs. I appreciate the opportunity to be on the Bargaining Committee again, and will continue to fight for fair wages, reasonable workloads, and respect in our workplace.
Kendra-Lee Dupuis (Notetaker) – Graduate Student Representative
Hi everyone! My name is Kendra-Lee Dupuis. I wear many hats at Brock University, including being a second year Master of Arts with a nursing speciality student, research assistant, course coordinator, teaching assistant and clinical instructor. Therefore, I am both a unit 1 and unit 4 member, offering unique perspectives into the healthcare and education realm. I look forward to being a part of the bargaining committee to ensure the best working conditions for all at Brock University.
Brigitte Cecckin – Member at large
Hi All. My name is Brigitte Cecckin and am honoured once again to participate in the Bargaining Committee for a new collective agreement. I am also your Lead Steward Unit 1 representing Unit 1 members when violations of the collective agreement have occurred. I have over 40 years of experience in Union business and have bargained many collective agreements during this time. My goal in this collective agreement is equal pay for equal work a campaign that has been adopted by our committee. I am a teaching assistant in Labour Studies for the past 24 years, on occasion I will work in the department of Sociology. On a personal note, my passions are adopting as many rescue dogs as possible. There are many fur friends that need love, security and a stable home.
Darrin Sunstrum – Member at Large
Hello there, I’m Darrin Sunstrum. I am a Brock graduate, who has worked as a Course Coordinator and Teaching Assistant in the Faculty of the Humanities, Department of Classics since 2003. I have served the local in various capacities, as a Faculty Steward, 1812 Health & Safety Committee, Bargaining Research Committee member, and member of the Bargaining Committee.
Tracy Stewart – Member at Large
Hi, my name is Tracy Stewart. I’m a Teaching Assistant and Course Coordinator in the Humanities, mainly in the Department of History and the Centre for Canadian Studies. I’ve been employed at Brock University since 1998, and was fortunate to vote for certifying CUPE 4207 Unit One at Brock! I hold an Honours Degree in History and a Bachelor of Education from Brock, and am also a licensed hairstylist and aesthetician (Jill of all trades!).
Over the past 27 years, I’ve worked across multiple disciplines and in many different environments, and have only grown in my certainty that a strong union is essential for our workers. I look forward to standing up for Unit 1 workers in this collective bargaining year!
Stephanie Kravcik – Member at Large
Hello everyone! You may have seen me around at various union events, but for those who don’t know me, I’d like to introduce myself. I am the current Health and Safety Deputy Officer with CUPE 4207, and wear a number of additional hats within the social, political action, equity, and bargaining committees, just to name a few. I have been a Teaching Assistant in both the Child and Youth Studies and Psychology departments for the last couple of years, and have been an active part of making my community a better place to live in for much of my life. I am honoured to hold a position on this year’s bargaining team, and look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of those around me.
Phil Wachel – President
Phil Wachel has served on three Unit 1 Bargaining Committees (once as an elected member of the committee and twice in an ex-officio role as president of the Local). Phil has taken bargaining training on numerous occasions. Phil has worked across the university as a Unit 1 worker (Faculty of Education, the Goodman School of Business, the Department of Economics, the Centre for Digital Humanities and the former Centre for Intercultural Studies). Phil is excited to work with the Unit 1 Bargaining Committee as we negotiate for a fair deal. In Solidarity, Phil.
Members can reach the Unit 1 Bargaining Committee at: cupe4207bargaining@gmail.com