SFU and TSSU to resume bargaining

On November 2, 2022, SFU and the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) began negotiating under the current Public Sector Employees Council (PSEC) mandate. The scope of negotiation includes both a collective agreement for the Certified Bargaining Unit (CBU), including teaching assistants, sessional instructors, distance education tutor/markers, graduate facilitators and other instructors defined in the most recent collective agreement, as well as a first collective agreement for research assistants (RAs) employed by the university.

We are writing with an update about the status of bargaining with the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU).  

On April 17, SFU and TSSU met with the Labour Relations Board (LRB). The LRB invited SFU and TSSU to proceed through an informal rather than a formal process. This was accepted and during the informal process, with the LRB’s assistance, an agreement was reached.

As part of this agreement, SFU and TSSU have agreed to return to the bargaining table for a total of three weeks during the period between April 24 and May 19, 2023. TSSU will also withdraw its strike vote and SFU will withdraw its application challenging the legitimacy of TSSU’s strike vote.

Should the TSSU wish to pursue a strike, they will take a new strike vote and must not serve strike notice on the University before 4 pm on May 19, 2023. Similarly, the University may not serve lockout notice on the TSSU before 4 pm on May 19, 2023.  

We recognize that this process has taken longer than anticipated and appreciate your patience. As part of these negotiations, SFU intends to table a monetary proposal that enhances supports for graduate students employed by the university and fulfills our commitment to becoming a living wage employer. Negotiating collective agreements is complex, but we remain committed to reaching a fair agreement with TSSU.  

We are eager to resume bargaining and look forward to continued negotiations with TSSU leadership.