Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Local 610 – the Graduate Teaching Assistant and Postdoctoral Associate union at Western University – needs our support!
PSAC 610 Bargaining update:
- March 20: Reached an impasse with the employer at mediation.
- March 25: Filed for a “No Board” report and will be in a strike position as at 12:01 am on April 11th.
- April 10: Single day of mediation.
- April 11 @ 12:01 am: PSAC 610 will be in a strike position and ready to engage in strike action.
- PSAC’s mobilization team has planned a rally and march on April 10th to show Western Administration that they are mobilized, ready to strike, and have other unionized employees on their side.
Contact: PSAC 610, communications@psac610.ca for more information.
How Can UWOSA Employees Support PSAC 610 Employees?
Join the rally and march on April 10, 2024, from Noon to 1:00 p.m. on the UC Hill
We invite each of you to join us and PSAC 610 in their fight for fair compensation for Graduate Teaching Assistants and Postdoctoral Associates and Fellows in the face of the rising cost of living, and scarcity of affordable housing while pursuing their education and research. If you plan to join the rally and walk and would like to carry a UWOSA banner, please email us at info@uwosa.ca to arrange to pick one up in the UWOSA office (255 UCC) by 11:30 a.m. on April 10th.
April 11, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.: PSAC 610 Strike Action
What is a strike? Strikes are often a last resort if progress is not being made during negotiations. Strikes are an important tool and a recognized right for unions.
What is a lockout? A lockout occurs when, during negotiations, the Employer refuses to allow its employees to work in order to force a settlement. In this instance, Western Administration may refuse to allow striking Graduate Teaching Assistants and Postdoctoral Fellows/Associates on to Western’s campus or have access to their Western computer accounts.
If the Strike Occurs: Walk the Picket Line: If you have time during your breaks or lunch, before work or after work, you have the option to join the picket line, or walk with and talk to PSAC 610 members to better understand the issues they are fighting for at the bargaining table.
Do not perform Graduate Teaching Assistant or Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate Work: As per Article 5.04 in our collective agreement, you have the right to decline performing PSAC 610 work. Article 5.04 states, “Employees have the right to decline to perform the normal duties of striking or locked out employees of the Employer during a legal strike by another bargaining unit of employees of the employer or during any lock out of another bargaining unit by the employer.” This work may include running research experiments usually done by postdoctoral fellows/associates, or proctoring exams usually done by Graduate Teaching Assistants.
If you are unsure if the work you are being asked to perform belongs to a Graduate Teaching Assistant or Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate, please reach out to the UWOSA office immediately at info@uwosa.ca.
Reporting to Work on April 11, 2024 at 12:01 a.m.: In the event that PSAC 610 does go on strike, our Collective Agreement, Article 5: Strike or Lockout, specifically Article 5.05 states, “Where individuals in a labor dispute, other than those in the bargaining unit, engage in a strike and maintain picket lines, and where employees of the bargaining unit could suffer personal harm, the employer will endeavor to safeguard such employees.”
This means we, as UWOSA members, are required to report to work, even if this means crossing a picket line. It will be the University’s responsibility to ensure that employees are safe when crossing the picket line, so if you would like a police escort, please contact special constable services on campus for assistance (wscs@uwo.ca, ext. 83300).
How do I know if PSAC 610 has chosen to strike? You can either check the PSAC 610 website (Union | PSAC Local 610 | Ontario (psac610.ca)), or you can check the Western University negotiations website (Contract Negotiations – Western University (uwo.ca)).
Driving to Campus: In the event PSAC 610 chooses to strike or the University’s Administration chooses to lock PSAC 610 members out, please allow yourself extra time to get to campus, and time to cross the picket line. If you are driving a vehicle, please be respectful to those picketing at the crosswalks and at the corners of the entrances to Western University.
London Transit: Please note that city buses will not enter campus during a strike or lockout. LTC will reroute so as not to cross picket lines and may instead stop on Richmond Street/ Western Road instead.
Crossing a picket line: When passing by or crossing picket lines, please be respectful and courteous to PSAC 610 members. Please avoid arguments or confrontations of why you are crossing, you may simply state that in the UWOSA collective agreement, you are required to report to work. If you would like a police escort to safely cross the picket line, please contact the special constable services (formerly known as campus police) for assistance (wscs@uwo.ca, ext. 83300).
If you are told by a supervisor to go home after reporting to work, please contact the UWOSA office at info@uwosa.ca before leaving campus.
If a supervisor is insisting that you perform tasks or duties normally performed by a Graduate Teaching Assistant or Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate, please contact the UWOSA office at info@uwosa.ca immediately.
Unionized workers on campus are united. UWOSA strongly believes in the collective bargaining process and stands in solidarity with its brothers and sisters of PSAC 610. Their fight today for fair compensation may be our fight in this summer’s round of collective bargaining for equitable compensation and fair working conditions.
In Solidarity,
Nikki Grozelle, Jen Heidenheim, Meg Perinpanayagam, Lori Johnson, Natalie Samuel, Emericks Rivas, Cleusa de Oliveira
UWOSA Executive Officers
