'Unproductive day at the table': Negotiations between Western graduate TAs and university stall
Flanked by major union players from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Ontario Federation of Labour, graduate-level teaching assistants (GTAs) at Western University remain on the picket line.
According to members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 610, negotiations with Western University stalled Friday over housing subsidy and increased wages.
“It was a very unproductive day at the table,” said PSAC Local 610 president Pardis Baha.
“Unfortunately, the employer (Western University) demonstrated once again that they're not here to make a deal and they're not here to hear our concerns. We've made our message clear. We are ready to return back to the bargaining table when they are ready to take our concern seriously and do something meaningful about them."
This weekend, The London District Labour Council brought in some heavy hitters to join in a “solidarity rally."
The picket lines included provincial representatives from the PSAC, the Ontario Federation of Labour, CUPE and a London NDP MPP.
“Everyone who is here today is saying to Western, ‘For the love of God, come back to the table and start to pay these people what they're worth,’” said CUPE president Fred Hahn. “We're talking here about people that do a big chunk of the instruction are forced to live in poverty. I don't think anyone thinks that's right."
CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn speaks to the crowd on the picket line at Western University in London, Ont. on Apr. 20, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)In a statement to CTV News, Western said "PSAC has rejeted Western's latest offer and walked away from the table for a third time."
A proposed bargaining update has been posted to the Western website.
The school said it had offered an hourly wage rate of $48.16, retroactive to Jan. 1, and an hourly wage rate of $51.10 by year four of the collective agreement.
As previously reported, the hourly wage for GTA’s is $47.22 per hour.
PSAC said while that may seem like a great hourly wage, they are capped at a maximum of 10 hours per week.
According to the university, being a GTA is a part-time job as they are full-time students.
“What is difficult to appreciate about academic work is that they are paid seemingly a high amount of hours but they are only paid for the time they're standing in front of students in a classroom,” said Hahn. “There is no prep time. There is no marking time. That’s why, when you calculate their wage based on the hours they work, they're below the poverty line.”
In response, Western told CTV News, "This is not correct. GTA work can be many things beyond in-class support for students. GTAs prepare materials for class, do grading and hold office hours and they are compensated for this work.The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is also calling for Western University to get back to the table and give PSAC “what they want and deserve.”
Jackie Taylor, vice-president of the OFL, called this a common thread, referring to a recent seven-week strike by GTAs at York University.
“There's a huge problem here,” said Taylor. “The government officials need to step up and make sure that these people are paid properly. You can't go anywhere in this province and get affordable housing anywhere and they're doing very, very important work."
London North Centre MPP Terence Kernaghan was also there and referred to Western University as “a top research University." He wants them to resume talks fairly but added the government may need to make future changes.
“In Ontario, we spend the least amount. We're bottom of the barrel when it comes to university funding,” said Kernaghan. “We'd have to raise that about 43-and-a-half per cent just to be second last. So this is a problem across the board”.
Western University previously told CTV News it respects the GTAs' right to labour action.
"At the same time, we are committed to ensuring undergraduate students finish the term with no disruption to their academic activities and scheduled exams," said Western's provost and vice-president Florentine Strzelczyk.
Pardis Baha, president of PSAC Local 610, speaks on the picket line at Western University in London, Ont. on Apr. 20, 2024 (Brent Lale/CTV News London)Meanwhile, PSAC claims undergraduate students are the ones who are suffering as they are caught in the middle.
“They're suffering extra stress and our members are passionate about what we do,” said Baha.
“We would rather be at our exams, proctoring our exams, marking the exams and providing undergraduate students with feedback supporting the end of their semester rather than be on the picket lines. It’s a shame that the university has decided to put their energy towards hiring contract workers towards encouraging our members to strike break rather than coming to the table with a fair deal to get us back to work”.
The strike is now into its eleventh day, beginning on Apr. 11, 2024 at 12:01 a.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Denial and uncertainty are looming over a Biden-Trump rematch 6 months out from U.S. Election Day
Exactly six months before Election Day, Biden and Trump are locked in the first contest in 112 years with a current and former president competing for the White House. It's a race that is at once deeply entrenched and highly in flux as many voters are only just beginning to embrace the reality of the 2024 campaign.
Israel closes Gaza crossing after Hamas attack and vows military operation 'in the very near future'
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis, while the defense minister warned of "a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza."
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.