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.
The agreement reflects considerable improvement on the offer that McGIll presented in its back-to-work protocol after AGSEM members approved a new collective agreement last June. Members voted 97 per cent last June 18 to reject the back-to-work protocol June 18 while also voting to end the strike and seek redress before a labour arbitration board.
This is the last outstanding issue from our strike and its resolution will help us move forward and build upon our new collective agreement," said AGSEM President Richard Hink. "We think this is a fair arrangement and one that is preferable to dragging the conflict out, perhaps after many members will have left McGill.
"The university has agreed to pay for hours completed before the strike no later than February 28, 2009. The official settlement covers all grievances filed from April 8, 2008 (when the strike was declared) to May 15, 2008.
AGSEM's executive committee has decided to use a portion of its remaining strike fund to establish a special fund to provide the same level of compensation for those few members whose grievances were filed outside of this date range, in other words, after May 15.
AGSEM represents 2,000 teaching assistants at McGill University, and is affiliated with the Fédération nationale des enseignantes et enseignants du Québec (FNEEQ-CSN).
For further information:
Lyle Stewart, CSN communications service
514 796-2066