TSSU Mediation Update

SFU and TSSU are in the process of negotiating both a collective agreement for current TSSU members, 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 employed by the University. This update provides information about the current status of negotiations – for previous updates, visit the Collective Bargaining central hub.

Simon Fraser University is committed to becoming a living wage employer, and the university has worked tirelessly to negotiate a new collective agreement that pays TSSU members a living wage.

Despite SFU’s continued efforts, TSSU has withdrawn from mediation at the BC Labour Relations Board (LRB).

TSSU has communicated that a resulting strike could include four forms of job action, such as withholding student grades from the university. A TSSU strike has the potential to significantly disrupt SFU students’ academic pursuits and adversely impact other members of the university community.

That is why SFU’s focus is to pursue all avenues that restart productive negotiations with TSSU and avoid the consequences of job action. 

When TSSU concluded its strike vote in March, SFU proactively applied for mediation at the LRB because it offers a process for parties to resolve outstanding issues with the help of a neutral third-party.

SFU’s Labour Relations team is deeply disappointed with TSSU’s engagement in the mediation process. Over the course of two independently mediated meetings, TSSU did not table any new proposals, did not table any counterproposals and refused to discuss key existing proposals that enable collaboration on a new collective agreement.

This is the third time TSSU has suspended negotiations since bargaining under the current mandate began on November 2, 2022. 

We care about the academic success of our students, supporting our outstanding faculty and staff and nurturing a thriving, world-class research environment – and we are keen to resolve this difficult situation as quickly as possible.