research assistants
Research assistants integrated into TSSU Collective Agreement
May 13, 2025On 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, and then research support, and…
Continue reading
The TSSU returns to bargain with SFU to secure research workers’ rights
September 21, 2024The 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 following their initial bargaining session…
Continue reading
Why all SFU research assistants must act now to finally win a union
July 29, 2023Editor’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 and research assistant, to avoid…
Continue reading
Teaching Support Staff Union rallies for research assistant rights
May 30, 2022On 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 signed an agreement to “voluntarily…
Continue reading
A comprehensive guide to the RAs fight for workers rights
February 6, 2022Editors 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 (RAs). The TSSU made the…
Continue reading
Teaching Support Staff Union begins first bargaining session with SFU for RA rights
May 24, 2021On 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 multiple legal notices, publicly campaigned for…
Continue reading
Teaching Support Staff Union continues to advocate for research assistants
March 22, 2021In 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 then, SFU has violated every term…
Continue reading
Research assistants need healthcare and SFU’s labour practices need reform
March 21, 2021Over 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.…
Continue reading
Graduate Student Society holds 2021 annual general meeting
March 10, 2021On 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…
Continue reading
SFU Residence and Housing fails to properly enforce COVID-19 guidelines
January 5, 2021Several 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…
Continue reading
Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.
For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]
Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.
For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]