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This is a photo of the outside of the academic quadrangle building at the SFU Burnaby campus. The square building is concrete with many large windows.
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TSSU holds vote to unionize research assistants

Olivia Sherman September 5, 2023

One of the initiatives the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) has been campaigning for is unionizing SFU’s research assistants (RA). The SFU administration claims RAs are not considered employees, and are therefore unable to unionize. TSSU has since engaged in a card signing campaign for RAs. Each signed card represents a declaration from an RA that they are willing to be a member of the union. Over 1,350 cards have been signed and submitted to the Labour Board, where the vote is still pending. The Peak interviewed TSSU organizers, Catherine Dubé and Yameena Zaidi, who explained the significance of the…

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This is a photo of the picket line at the SFU Surrey campus. Picketers are pacing in front of the main entrance, they are holding signs that read “ON STRIKE”
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TSSU engages strike action at Surrey campus

Olivia Sherman August 1, 2023

Editor’s Note: The Peak would like to acknowledge and apologize for misgendering one of our interviewees. Their correct pronouns have been added to the web-version of the article. On July 19, the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) took strike action at SFU’s…

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This is a photo of the picket line at SFU Harbour Centre. Members are holding a large banner in front of the doors that reads ON STRIKE
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BCGEU donates $200,000 to TSSU Strike Fund

Olivia Sherman July 12, 2023

On June 29, the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) held a picket line outside SFU’s Harbour Centre. Paul Finch, the treasurer of the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), was present at the demonstration, where he announced the BCGEU was…

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A TSSU sign which reads, “Love your teacher, disrespect scabs”
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SFU’s response to the TSSU picket lines has been poor

Anthony Houston June 29, 2023

As an international student, I tend to stay at the edges of certain aspects of Canadian life. I’ve strayed away from having an opinion about politics, healthcare, or worker’s rights, not because I don’t care about any of those things,…

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Six people forming a picket line with two people in the front holding an orange bucket as a drum. The location is at AQ Shrum Science building.
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TSSU members form picket line in labour action

Olivia Sherman June 22, 2023

As of June 12, the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) has gone on strike, with an overwhelming 94% vote to take this action. Leading up to the strike, teaching assistants (TAs) began their labour action by refusing overtime pay for…

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A photo of convocation mall at SFU Burnaby Campus, Ribbons hanging from the walls can be seen.
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The TSSU Strike Vote: A Timeline of Events

Anthony Houston June 16, 2023

As is the case with any Canadian union, SFU’s Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) has the right to strike in accordance with the British Columbia Labour Relations Board (LRB). Strikes are a type of job action that pressure an employer…

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A photograph of SFU’s Academic Quadrangle.
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The Teaching Support Staff Union votes in favour of strike action

Saije Rusimovici May 8, 2023

With a vote of 94%, the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) has decided in favour of taking strike action to improve working and learning conditions on campus. The TSSU represents over 3,500 workers “who teach and conduct research at Simon…

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Research assistants need healthcare and SFU’s labour practices need reform

Emma Jean March 21, 2021

Over the past month, the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) has been circulating a petition that demands research assistants (RAs) — who fall under the TSSU —  be granted the benefits they were promised by SFU nearly two years ago.…

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Graduate Student Society holds 2021 annual general meeting

Jaymee Salisi March 10, 2021

On February 23, 2021, the SFU Graduate Student Society (GSS) held their annual general meeting over Zoom. The event was open to graduate students in good standing to vote on matters surrounding their experiences at the university.  Opposition to tuition…

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SFU Residence and Housing fails to properly enforce COVID-19 guidelines

Gurpreet Kambo and Harvin Bhathal January 5, 2021

Several SFU students have voiced their concerns to The Peak regarding SFU Residence and Housing’s COVID-19 procedures. These concerns primarily revolve around proper sanitation and the enforcement of existing physical distancing policies that Residence and Housing already has. One of…

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