The Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at Western University have gone on strike after rejecting the latest offer from their employer. The GTAs will be stepping away from their duties on the first day of the undergraduate exam period. The university announced that GTAs were earning an hourly wage of $48.41 as of January 1, which would increase to $51.10 in the fourth year of their collective agreement. However, the maximum hours allowed for GTAs are 10 hours a week, limiting the income they can bring in. The local union president, Pardis Baha, argues that many GTAs are doing less than the maximum hours, further reducing their income.
The University of Western Faculty Association (UWOFA) has expressed support for the striking GTAs, highlighting the disparity between the cost of living in London and the earnings of GTAs at Western. According to UWOFA’s website, Western’s guaranteed funding package for Ph.D. students is $23,360, significantly below the recommended stipend of $41,848.19. The Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 610, the union representing the GTAs, rejected Western’s offer, leading to the strike. The union claims that there are over 2,000 GTAs employed at Western who have duties as proctors and markers during exam periods.
In response to the strike, the university has asked Professional and Managerial Association staff to take on proctoring shifts and has invited GTAs to continue working if they choose. However, Baha alleges that the university is focusing on contracting out members’ work to other staff on campus and encouraging them to cross picket lines. UWOFA strongly condemns faculty members taking on work normally done by GTAs, stating that this undermines labour solidarity and takes advantage of vulnerable graduate students. The union encourages faculty members to resist pressure to take on TA work during the strike.
Negotiations between the GTAs and the university began on October 30, 2023, with the goal of achieving a tentative agreement. Baha emphasizes that the solidarity seen on campus extends beyond just the GTAs, as all employees are struggling with the employer’s treatment. The strike is not just a TA fight, but a collective fight for all employees on campus. The union vows to stand in solidarity with other employees during their bargaining processes as well. As the strike continues, both the GTAs and the university are working towards a resolution that addresses the concerns raised by the GTAs.
