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TA union reaches agreement with McGill on unpaid work
The union representing McGill's teaching assistants has reached an agreement with the university to settle more than 100 outstanding grievances related to unpaid work completed before last spring's two-month strike. The settlement negotiated by the Association of Grad Students Employed at McGill and the university administration means arbitration will be avoided for these grievances.
More...McGill University targeted in call for decent employment practices
This week, educators across the continent are calling attention to the employment conditions of contingent academic staff at our colleges and universities. These professionals form the often-unacknowledged labour force that makes the university work, ranging from sessional and part-time instructors to teaching assistants and other graduate employees. « Campus equity Week » runs October 27-31 this year. For the Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec (FNEEQ-CSN), it's an opportunity to raise awareness about the precarious working conditions of graduate employees at McGill University. A recent Quebec labour relations commission ruling vividly demonstrates the need to update Quebec labour law to reflect the modern reality of atypical and precarious work situations, says FNEEQ President Ronald Cameron. In a September 24 decision, Commissioner André Michaud rejected the complaints filed by 138 McGill teaching assistants against the university after it dismissed them from unrelated on-campus employment during a 10-week strike by the unionized TAs last spring.
More...Fairness for All college and university teachers
This week, educators across the continent join together to call attention to the employment conditions of contingent academic staff at our colleges and universities. These professionals form the often-unacknowledged labour force that makes the university work, ranging from sessional and part-time instructors to teaching assistants and other graduate employees. McGill’s teaching assistants, members of the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM, FNEEQ-CSN), take the opportunity of Campus Equity Week to highlight their contribution to the quality of education. In recognition of this contribution, they seek more equal salary and working conditions.
Huge demonstration of CEGEPs Teachers on October 6th
In each cegep, the teachers express a strong support on Monday, October the 6th, in front of their college. Pictures of the piquet line and rallies, press coverage and documents produced for the event could be retrieved here and on the French space.
Let's make October 6 a strong rallying point in support of our profession!
On September 4th and 5th, each meeting of the three union federations - FAC, FEC-CSQ, and FNEEQ-CSN - jointly and unanimously adopted a proposal for a joint action to be held on Monday, October 6, the day after World Teachers’ Day. The objective of this action is to show our dissatisfaction with the use of funds obtained during the last federal transfers and to demand an authentic reinvestment in college education. This first operation will start with a picket line organized by each union on the morning of October 6. At this time, a distribution of a pamphlet and a leaflet to students and college staff will be held to inform them of the significance of our action. We invite you to participate in large numbers. The support of individual teachers is essential in order to provide union representatives with the authority they require when dealing with the Minister. We are counting on your support.
Let's make October 6 a strong rallying point in support of our profession !
To retrieve the Intersyndical Newsletter no 6
To reach the last issue of Carnet collégial
New Academic Year to Support More Respect for the Teaching Profession
Last February 7 and 8, delegates from 59 federation unions held an important meeting to mark the launch of a text entitled “Teaching at the College Level... Profile of the Profession” produced in collaboration with the CPNC. On this occasion, the delegations adopted a declaration entitled “A Plea for More Respect for the Cegep Teaching Profession” and also agreed to work together so as to communicate to the Government of Quebec the need to give teachers the means necessary to do the work expected of them and to recognize college teachers for their proper value. This decision prompted a series of actions that we would like to write about here.
In the Intersyndical Newsletter, you will find not only a balance sheet of the campaign, but also what is going on around the issue for more respect for the Teaching Profession.
McGill TAs Sign Collective Agreement with the University
Unionized teaching assistants at McGill University signed the final text of their third collective agreement with the administration today, more than a month after they voted to end an eleven-week strike for better working conditions.
More...McGill teaching assistants vote to end strike
McGill University's unionized teaching assistants voted 91.5 per cent to end their 10 - week strike during a general assembly yesterday evening - even as they voted 97.2 per cent to reject McGill's proposition for a back-to-work protocol.
More...McGill teaching assistants endorse collective agreement
In the largest General Assembly since their rejection of the Administration's "Global Offer" on May 6th, McGill's teaching assistants voted resoundingly in favour of accepting the settlement recommendation of the conciliator appointed by the Minister of Labour. Now that the text of the Collective Agreement has been ratified, only the Back-to-Work Protocol addressing TAs dismissed and suspended from other campus employment remains. It has been reported incorrectly in the media that our strike is over. While we are closer than ever to a settlement, negotiations continue on the Back-to-Work Protocol. The strike does not end until the Back-to-Work Protocol has been ratified to ensure an orderly return to work. Here is the press release after the vote :
McGill University's striking teaching assistants voted 96 per cent, during a general assembly Thursday evening, to accept a conciliator's recommendations and approve a new collective agreement. However, the strike continues as a back-to-work protocol is negotiated with the university administration. The 2,000 members of the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM) have been on strike since April 8 to obtain improvements to salaries and working conditions that recognize their contribution to McGill's pedagogical mission.
More...Striking McGill teaching assistants reach tentative agreement
Thanks to a last-ditch effort from a provincial conciliator, the union representing McGill University's striking teaching assistants reached an agreement-in-principle with the university administration yesterday. The 2,000 members of the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM) have been on strike since April 8 over issues relating to professional recognition, workload and wages.
More...A « Shame-On-The-Admin » rally today
McGill University's striking teaching assistants and their friends will host a « Shame-On-The-Admin » rally at the Roddick Gates at noon to 3:30 pm today, May 30. The Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM), on strike since April 8, will be joined by members, allies and other groups at McGill who have suffered at the hands of an administration that governs without regard for social justice, labour law or campus harmony.
Cegep Lionel-Groulx Teachers choose the FNEEQ-CSN
The Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec (FNEEQ-CSN) is welcoming a new union. After deciding to leave the Fédération autonome du collégial (FAC) on May 5, teachers from Cegep Lionel-Groulx were called on to choose between affiliations with the FEC-CSQ or the FNEEQ. They chose the FNEEQ by a large majority of 72 %. For this particular union, the vote represents a return to the CSN’s education federation.
FNEEQ President Ronald Cameron is very pleased with the result of the referendum. “This decision is important for the future of teachers’ unions in the Cegep system. We are very happy to welcome these new members and thereby reinforce our presence in the post-secondary teaching sector.”
Listen to Ronald Cameron welcoming this union (in French)
McGill teaching assistants soundly reject contract offer
By the overwhelming margin of 86.4 per cent, McGill University's striking teaching assistants voted to reject a "global" contract offer from the McGill administration during a general assembly held Tuesday evening. Despite a series of ruthless tactics employed by the McGill administration since their strike was declared April 8, the result clearly demonstrates that teaching assistants refuse to be bullied into accepting an offer that does not respond to their most important priorities.
More...Cross-border solidarity
In a letter signed by Larry Gold, Director of AFT Higher Education, the American Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO) give his support to the AGSEM Strike. AFT represents 1,4 millions mermbers, including 165,000 higher education faculty and professionnel staff. Also, we can find a post on the AFT website, asking support to AGSEM strike. Craig Smith suggests to send an email to the Principals of the McGill University : How about sending a message up to the administration at McGill ? Let them know that we believe that the AGSEM’s demands are reasonable, that McGill’s tactics are not only illegal but they run counter to the collegiality upon which the academy is based, and that we believe McGill should negotiate in good faith rather than creating a culture of fear among its employees.
To reach the website of AFT FACE campaign
To retrieve the letter of AFT Higher Education Director, Larry Gold
McGill University’s Recent Legal Claims
On Thursday 24 April 2008, McGill’s Administration distributed throughout the university community a letter issued by Deputy Provost, Morton J. Mendelson (student life and learning). Not only does Mr. Mendelson illegally interfere with the union’s business, but his letter also made the claim that the Commission des Relations du Travail du Québec (CRT) supported - in a decision made without the presence of the AGSEM’s legal representatives - the university's interpretation of the application of Quebec labour laws in the context of the ongoing TA strike.
MED....follow the guide!
A new guide is available for cegep teachers placed on availability. The provisions (5-4.00) in the FNEEQ (CSN) cegep teachers forced collective agreement 2005-2010 are not very transparent to say the least! Therefore, in order to facilitate their understanding you can access the new guide by clicking here.
The dismissals have not affected TAs solidarity!
Many of the 1100 McGill's teacher's assistants, on strike for two weeks now, enjoyed the nice weather and organized a solidarity barbecue yesterday. Despite the attempts of McGill's administration to break the movement, it was obvious under a shining spring sun, that the striker's spirit is still very high.
McGill illegally fires student workers because of union activities
McGill University is illegally firing graduate students from their contracts as exam invigilators if they belong to the union representing striking teaching assistants. As well, the university is refusing to hire teaching assistants for this work because of the labour conflict with their union.
More...McGill students support striking teaching assistants
McGill University’s striking teaching assistants will welcome a strong expression of support from a wide array of student groups today at noon, during a demonstration at McGill’s Roddick Gates on Sherbrooke St.
More...The three union federations of college teachers unite for the recognition of the value of the college teaching profession
At a special meeting on February 7, the 59 unions of the three union federations of college teachers endorsed a plea and a recommendation on the need to recognize in concrete ways the value of the college teaching profession. This joint action by the unions is the result of major initiatives taken to develop an up-to-date portrait of the teaching profession. It is a fact that since 1994, as a result of the college teaching reform, the workload of college teachers has become obviously and increasingly complex. Moreover, despite the abrupt conclusion of the last negotiations, union and employer representatives did nonetheless agree to form joint committees with the explicit mandate of defining some of the changes in the profession. Conducted jointly by the three union federations (FAC, FEC-CSQ, FNEEQ-CSN) and by the employer’s college negotiating committee, these initiatives concluded with the production of a text that, to the satisfaction of all parties, depicted the teaching profession as it is today. The text was presented to the media last week by the three union federations (photo). We believe that these major initiatives cannot go unheeded. On the contrary, they must lead to possible and concrete measures to recognize the value of the teaching profession. The 59 member-unions of the three union federations have also resolved to solicit the support of members of the Boards of Governors of each college in demanding that this work be continued.
- You can retreive the document Teaching at the College Level... Profile of the Profession here.
- You can also get a ppt file offering an overview of the issue, prepared by the three union federations.
McGill TAs vote to strike last March 31st
In a Special General Assembly last March 31st, the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill voted in favour in a proportion of 79 per cent, for a general, unlimited strike. Over 350 members participated to the assembly, the biggest one in the history of the Union.
To read the reports of The McGill Tribune, the Student Society of McGill University (SSMU) paper.
To read the editorial of Max Silverman, on behalf of SSMU, in support of TA demands. The SSMU is dedicating a whole section of their website to our negotiations to give undergrads regular updates, information on how to support TAs, etc. Plus, they've pledged to write to Principal Heather Munroe-Blum to express undergrad concerns for a quick resolution.