TSSU bargaining status update

The university cares about the academic success of our students, supporting our outstanding faculty and staff and nurturing a thriving, world-class research environment. We are focused on resolving this difficult situation as quickly as possible. 

SFU’s bargaining team continues to look for solutions to present to TSSU to resolve collective bargaining, avoid further job action and reach a fair deal with Collective Bargaining Unit members when the TSSU is prepared to return to the bargaining table.

As TSSU escalates job action, we feel it is important that our community has a fulsome understanding of the work to-date and the key issues outstanding. 

Overview of TSSU Bargaining as of September 28

The university and TSSU began collective bargaining in November 2022. Since the beginning of the negotiation period, the parties met in person for bargaining 41 times. The last date of bargaining took place Monday, September 25, 2023.

In that time, the university tabled approximately 50 proposals while TSSU leadership tabled more than 500 proposals. To date, there are still more than 200 TSSU proposals outstanding.

The university applied for mediation from the Labour Relations Board in March 2023. Over two independent mediated sessions, TSSU did not meaningfully engage in the process and withdrew from mediation in early April, opting to conduct a strike vote among their members.

Progress at the bargaining table

The university’s bargaining approach is that of “interest-based bargaining” where our negotiators focus on finding win-wins and common ground. 

At the table, the university has moved on several of TSSU’s fundamental issues including compensation models, maximum weekly hours, a continuing employment model with annual commitments for English Language and Culture (ELC) instructors and a pension option that allows for matching RRSPs.

There remain several fundamental issues that the university cannot accept because they would:

• Incur costs that exceed the funds available within the Province's Shared Recovery Mandate;
• Breach core interests such as faculty rights to set course delivery model, or importance of faculty student connection, or;
• Fall outside the scope of this negotiation, such as Grad COLA, Guaranteed Funding and Sessional Rights to continuing faculty appointments.

Outstanding bargaining issues

This table is being updated to keep community members informed about the status of barganing. Last update: Friday, October 13

The university has requested additional bargaining dates beginning next week and reiterated its request for twice-weekly meetings until an agreement is reached. TSSU has not responded to the request for more dates and no further bargaining sessions are scheduled. 

TSSU strike action

TSSU has been on strike since June 2023. During that time, they put a ban on overtime and conducted “teach-ins” during tutorials. They have withdrawn one full day of teaching work and picketed three times, once at each campus.

Starting, September 28, TSSU members have announced a full teaching work stoppage with pickets scheduled for Thursday at both SFU Surrey Campus buildings, Friday at SFU Vancouver Campus and Tuesday at SFU Burnaby Campus. 

Pay and benefits during a strike

During a strike, the university will not pay union members who do not perform their duties per University Policy GP-05 – Strike Policy. Union members who withhold services during a strike may be eligible to receive strike pay from their union.

The university has not removed or suspended benefits from any TSSU members. It does not plan to remove benefits from any TSSU members. All eligible TSSU members are still covered under their regular benefit plan.

In a strike situation, wages and benefits are typically suspended during periods when employees are on strike and not reporting to work. This practice is outlined in SFU’s Strike Policy (GP-05) and is in alignment with the BC Labour Code.

Learn more about collective bargaining and strike action by visiting the Collective Bargaining FAQs.