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Graduate Teaching Assistants (PSAC 610)
PSAC 610 Negotiations Update – April 29, 2024
PSAC 610 ratifies tentative agreement
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Local 610 (PSAC 610), the union representing Graduate Teaching Assistants at Western, have voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached last week.
The University will now take the agreement to the Board of Governors for a ratification vote.
PSAC 610 Negotiations Update – April 25, 2024
Western University and PSAC 610 reach tentative agreement
Western University and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Local 610 (PSAC 610), the union representing Graduate Teaching Assistants at Western, have reached a tentative agreement which the negotiating teams have jointly agreed to recommend to their respective parties.
The agreement will require the ratification of PSAC 610 members and Western’s Board of Governors.
PSAC 610 Negotiations Update – April 23, 2024
** Clarifications highlighted **
Western University has been driving toward a timely agreement to ensure all Graduate Teaching Assistants receive their full April pay, including extensive conversations with the PSAC bargaining team this evening. We care very deeply about the wellbeing of our graduate TAs.
We have asked the PSAC bargaining team for a response to our latest offer by 8:00AM tomorrow, April 24.
That’s the absolute latest time that would allow us to administer the monthly April payroll. The payroll process requires extraordinary diligence by Western staff to ensure its accuracy.
What does this mean? Anyone who worked up to April 10 will receive that pay in April. TAs who have signalled their intention to continue working during the strike will be paid for the full month as normal. We had hoped we could reach an agreement that would have allowed us to pay all GTAs for the full month despite the strike.
Unfortunately, the PSAC bargaining team has indicated they cannot respond to our latest offer until 5:00PM tomorrow - which is too late for full April pay.
As we approach the 14th day of the strike, it’s important to clarify where we are, what’s on the table, and what remains at issue.
We have responded to all items, and on April 21 the University tabled a very strong offer.
PSAC leaders have agreed that we’re almost there.
The impasse stems from the union’s desire to negotiate terms that are not part of this employment agreement. The union wants to address the issue of broader graduate student funding packages within an employment agreement that covers only one aspect of that package.
Why are we not doing this?
Two key reasons:
- This agreement is exclusive to the work some students do as graduate teaching assistants – and graduate student funding comes from a mix of sources, many of which are not related to employment.
- Not all graduate students are teaching assistants, so it’s not appropriate to address matters of broader funding packages within an agreement that only cover about 30% of Western graduate students.
What we are talking about is a specific employment contract, for a specific type of work, and we need to stay focused on that.
To be clear: we have already addressed “clawback” language within these negotiations. In our last offer we strengthened that language in Article 13 to assure members that any raises or additional hours TAs get, they keep. The University will not “claw this back” by giving TAs less funding from other sources.
How the broader graduate student funding mix can change based on the external scholarships some graduate students get is an entirely separate matter. It’s a complicated issue (see Quick Facts below) and it’s one worth more attention. The University has agreed to review this issue, but where it belongs: outside of bargaining and with proper consultation.
There is a strong offer that remains on the table.
We appreciate that the cost of living is ever-increasing. And we know that, with their decision to delay entry into the full-time workforce, graduate students may face financial pressures as they earn their degrees. That’s why we’re taking new steps with this offer, and with other recent measures outlined in our April 21 update.
Quick Facts: The graduate student funding mix
Graduate student funding can come from many sources: Western Graduate Research Scholarships (WGRS); graduate fellowships from supervisors’ research grants; external awards like the Ontario Graduate Scholarship; and part-time employment such as graduate teaching assistantships.
Across Western’s 110+ graduate programs, and with some disciplines garnering more research grants than others, there is a lot of variation in the funding packages graduate students receive. This is the case at all universities.
An increase in funding from one source can result in a decrease in funding from another source. This is often referred to as a “clawback”.
For example, when a student wins an external scholarship, they may receive fewer TA hours or less funding from a graduate fellowship or WGRS.
Why do universities make these adjustments? Two key reasons:
- To free up those students with external scholarships to do their research. Less time spent on TA work means more time focused on publishing papers – a key success metric for many graduate students.
- To create equity among graduate students. With funding adjustments we mitigate the issue of huge gaps between students who might otherwise be on similar paths. We are trying to avoid a landscape of “haves” and “have-nots”.
PSAC 610 Bargaining Update – April 21, 2024
Western University and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Local 610 (PSAC 610), the union representing Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at Western, returned to the table for mediation talks today, April 21, 2024.
During mediation, the enhanced offer the university put forward continued to place Western GTAs among the highest hourly-paid GTAs in the province.
PSAC has rejected this latest offer and walked away from the table for a third time. The university is open to returning to the table at any time.
Western provides more than $106 million in annual funding for graduate students. With this money on average Western offers full-time master’s and doctoral students in research-based graduate programs annual funding of $29,656 and $32,641 respectively; some packages are much higher.
Here are a few details of Western’s latest offer to those employed as Graduate Teaching Assistants:
- Hourly wage increases of:
- January 1, 2024 - 3% - $48.64/hr
- September 2024 - 3% - $50.10/hr
- September 2025 - 2.5% - $51.35/hr
- September 2026 - 2.0% - $52.38/hr
- In addition to hourly wage increases, a lump sum payment of $800, plus a $400 ratification bonus, to be payable May 2024, to each GTA employed in the 2023/2024 Fall or Winter terms.
- Additional lump sum payments of $100 in each of the three remaining years of the agreement.
- An increase in contribution to the GTA Fund which supports education related expenses as well as those with financial need and childcare expenses.
The university is doing all that it can to reach an agreement that is fair and equitable, and we remain committed to achieving a mutually agreeable contract.
Outside of current negotiations, Western has been listening and responding to the needs of graduate students in several other ways. This includes: doubling the amount of funding requested by the Graduate Student Association (SOGS) for students affected by inflationary costs; significantly increasing bursary funding and adding additional staff resources to directly support graduate students; and committing to build new housing for graduate students.
The university will remain open, and operations will continue as normal. Plans continue to minimize any impact on undergraduate students and colleagues across campus.
It’s important that we continue to be courteous and respectful to all members of the community during this difficult time. The safety of all community members during a labour disruption is our top priority.
With respect and appreciation to our community,
Florentine Strzelczyk
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
PSAC 610 Bargaining Update – April 18, 2024
Western University has invited the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Local 610 (PSAC 610), the union representing Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at Western, back to the table for mediation talks that will take place on Friday, April 19, 2024.
Graduate Teaching Assistants make important contributions to the learning experience of Western undergraduate students. The university is doing all it can to reach an agreement that is fair and equitable, and we remain committed to achieving a mutually agreeable contract.
The university remains open, and all academic and research activities – including final exams – continue as normal.
People can continue to expect delays due to picket lines and should give themselves extra time accessing campus.
It’s important that we continue to be courteous and respectful of PSAC 610 members and with each other during this time. The safety of all community members is our top priority.
PSAC 610 Bargaining Update – April 10, 2024
The Public Service Alliance of Canada, Local 610 (PSAC 610), the union representing Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at Western, has rejected Western’s latest offer and walked away from the bargaining table.
As a result, GTAs who are a member of PSAC 610 will be in a strike position as of 12:01 a.m. on April 11, 2024.
Western is proud of its graduate students and values the important contributions they make to the quality of undergraduate education. Western GTAs are among the top paid GTAs in the province and the final offer continues to provide generous pay for this work that supports teaching activities at Western. The university remains committed to achieving a mutually agreeable contract.
In response to some of the key issues brought to the table, the university has offered:
- An hourly wage rate (effective January 1, 2024) of $48.16
- An hourly wage rate of $51.10 by year four of the collective agreement
It’s important to note that the position of a GTA is not full-time employment. GTAs are paid up to 10 hours a week because we want students focused primarily on their academic work in pursuit of their degrees. Financial support to graduate students comes from a variety of sources that, in addition to part-time GTA employment, can also include graduate student scholarships, graduate fellowships, research grants, and external awards.
Outside of current negotiations, Western has been listening and responding to the needs of graduate students in several other ways. This includes: doubling the amount of funding requested to support graduate students affected by inflationary costs; significantly increasing bursary funding and adding additional staff resources to directly support graduate students; and committing to build new housing for graduate students.
Western recognizes the right to labour action, and at the same time we are committed to ensuring undergraduate students finish the term with no disruption to their academic activities and scheduled exams.
The university will remain open, and operations will continue as normal. Plans are in place to minimize any impact on students and colleagues across campus. However, people can expect delays due to picket lines and should give themselves extra time accessing campus.
While the union has chosen to initiate a strike, we want to emphasize our respect for PSAC 610 members and all our employee groups. We also wish to respect those student employees who have opted to continue to complete their paid Graduate Teaching Assistantship this month. We thank people in advance for their patience and for being respectful to each other throughout this labour disruption.
Community members can stay informed through updates and frequently asked questions posted on the Contract Negotiations website.
With respect and appreciation to our community,
Florentine Strzelczyk,
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
PSAC 610 Bargaining Update – April 5, 2024
The union representing Graduate Teaching Assistants (PSAC 610) will be in a legal strike position on Thursday, April 11.
With mediation set for April 10, the University is hopeful we can reach an agreement before the April 11 deadline.
That said, Western has a comprehensive plan that will allow students to write their final scheduled exams and continue all normal university operations.
Students are encouraged to confirm their exam times and locations and give themselves extra time getting to their exam locations.
PSAC 610 Bargaining Update – March 25, 2024
The union representing Graduate Teaching Assistants (PSAC 610) has requested a no-board report and the Ministry of Labour issued the report on March 25. This puts the union in a legal strike position on Thursday, April 11.
The University is hopeful that an agreement can be negotiated, and a strike avoided; however, contingency planning is in place to ensure there is no disruption to academic and research activities.
The bargaining committees for both parties have met eight times to negotiate the renewal of the collective agreement, including the most recent meeting with a government appointed conciliation officer, following PSAC 610’s request for conciliation.
PSAC 610 Bargaining Update – February 12, 2024
The University and its Graduate Teaching Assistants (PSAC 610) have been in collective bargaining since October 30, 2023 and have met seven times. Negotiations are for renewal of the collective agreement that expired on August 31, 2023.
The parties will meet on March 20 with the assistance of a government appointed conciliation officer, following PSAC 610's request for conciliation. This is a normal step in the collective bargaining process.
The University is committed to achieving a negotiated agreement with PSAC 610.
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