Teaching assistants back at work

Following a 96 per cent vote on June 12 accepting a new collective agreement with the University by AGSEM, the union representing striking teaching assistants voted to ratify a new collective agreement with McGill University based on the conciliator’s recommendations that had been accepted by both the University and the Executive of AGSEM.

At a general assembly held on June 18 the AGSEM voted to return to work without conditions and therefore without a back to work protocol. Both the union and the University had stated on more than one occasion that it was essential to have an agreed upon back to work protocol in order to end the strike. After careful consideration of the options, the University decided to sign the new collective agreement in the absence of such a protocol in order to end the labour conflict. Employees returned to work between June 23 and July 2.

The hiring process for teaching assistants for the 2008 Fall term, which started last March, has now resumed. The original posting period, from March 15 to April 13, 2008, included the beginning of the strike period. Supplementary postings will be issued from August 28 to September 4.

Morton J. Mendelson
Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning)