Concordia teaching and research assistants adopt strike mandate as finals loom

Concordia University is seen in Montreal, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Research and teaching assistants at Concordia University adopted a strike mandate over the weekend that could go as far as an unlimited general strike as finals season approaches.

Concordia’s Research and Education Workers Union (CREW-CSN) represents more than 2,000 employees and 95 per cent voted in favour of the strike. They say more than 3,000 tutorials, conferences and laboratories at the university could be affected.

“It’s really not something that our members have taken lightly to vote for this mandate. But as a last resort, it seems that our membership really thinks that it’s time to put this kind of pressure on the employer,” said Ria Mayer, a member of the bargaining committee and a graduate student in philosophy.

Wages and workloads are at the heart of the dispute. The union is asking for a pay raise to $45 an hour to catch up with the rising cost of living and job security measures. It is also looking to end unpaid working hours.

TAs offer students tutorials, participate in lessons, help students engage with courseloads, provide guidelines on experiments done in university labs and advice on final papers. They also help with grading.

“Withdrawal of that labor at such a critical time is quite significant, and could affect quite a few people’s end of term for this winter semester,” said Mayer.

Mayer told CTV News the union made advances in negotiations with the university on issues like health and safety and the defining harassment and discrimination. She said negotiations came to a halt when the university would not provide a satisfactory counter-offer on wages and job security.

Research and teaching assistants are students themselves and Mayer says many are struggling with increasing rents, high food prices and rising inflation. Many take on extra contracts on top of their studies to make ends meet, she added.

“At the end of the day, we hope very much that we are able to reach a conclusion with the employer, without having to go to a strike,” said Mayer. “We’re a very precarious group of people providing a very essential service.”

A spokesperson for Concordia said negotiations are ongoing and “we are hopeful that there will be an agreement that addresses the needs of both the union members and the university.”

In early February, the union and the university met with a conciliator appointed by Quebec’s labour board. They will return to the negotiation table Monday.