research assistants
Research assistants integrated into TSSU Collective Agreement
May 13, 2025By: Corbett Gildersleve, News Writer On March 28, SFU announced they reached a Memorandum of Settlement with the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) to add about 1,000 research assistants (RAs) to the current TSSU collective agreement. This is a historic agreement as it is the first one in Western Canada. The Peak spoke with Kayla Hilstob, chief steward, and Derek Sahota, member representative, from TSSU to learn more about the history and impact of this change. TSSU members include sessional instructors, teaching assistants, faculty of education mentors, and graduate facilitators. The new members will now include up to 1,000 “RAs,…
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The TSSU returns to bargain with SFU to secure research workers’ rights
September 21, 2024By: Sofia Chassomeris, News Writer The Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) returned to bargain with SFU, beginning with the non-substantive terms of their collective agreement. On their website, the TSSU refers to this period as the first stage of bargaining…
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Why all SFU research assistants must act now to finally win a union
July 29, 2023By: Kelvin Gawley, SFU Student Editor’s note: While this piece was published in The Peak’s Features section, it was edited by Opinions Editor Michelle Young. This is in place of Features Editor Daniel Salecdo Rubio, who is both a teaching…
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Teaching Support Staff Union rallies for research assistant rights
May 30, 2022By: Jaymee Salisi, Promotions Coordinator On April 4, 2022 SFU’s Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) held a rally at Convocation Mall protesting the university’s continued delays to fulfill a union contract with their research assistants (RAs). In November 2019, SFU…
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A comprehensive guide to the RAs fight for workers rights
February 6, 2022By: Kelly Chia, Staff Writer Editors note: The article has been updated to reflect that some RAs are recognized as workers as of last Spring. In 2014, graduate students approached the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) to unionize research assistants…
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Teaching Support Staff Union begins first bargaining session with SFU for RA rights
May 24, 2021Written by: Jaymee Salsi, News Writer On March 23, 2021, the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) and SFU administration had their first meeting to negotiate a collective agreement. To bring SFU to the bargaining table, the TSSU gave the university…
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Teaching Support Staff Union continues to advocate for research assistants
March 22, 2021Written by: Jaymee Salisi, News Writer In 2019, SFU signed a Memorandum of Agreement of Voluntary Recognition with the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) to grant the university’s research assistants (RAs) equal rights and benefits as other SFU employees. Since…
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Research assistants need healthcare and SFU’s labour practices need reform
March 21, 2021by Emma Jean, Staff Writer 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…
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Graduate Student Society holds 2021 annual general meeting
March 10, 2021Written by: Jaymee Salisi, News Writer 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…
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SFU Residence and Housing fails to properly enforce COVID-19 guidelines
January 5, 2021by Gurpreet Kambo and Harvin Bhathal 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…
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