The Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) held a rally protesting SFU administration’s continued delays with their research assistants (RAs) union contract outside of Strand Hall on September 23, 2021. In November 2019, SFU agreed to the voluntary recognition agreement that acknowledged TSSU as the union for RAs. Despite this, RAs have been without a contract for 677 days, and TSSU reported delays in the bargaining process. The Peak was present and observed the rally. The rally began at Cornerstone Square on the Burnaby campus with introductory speeches by organizing leaders. After gathering everybody and handing out t-shirts, buttons, and signs,…
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On August 24, the BC Provincial Health Office (PHO) issued an updated COVID-19 guideline for post-secondary institutions. The revised guidelines include a mask mandate for return to class, but students will not be required to be vaccinated to attend in-person…
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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 multiple legal notices, publicly campaigned for…
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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 then, SFU has violated every term…
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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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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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Research is one of SFU’s three pillars in its strategic vision, resulting in $161 million in income. Research assistants (RAs), a group that primarily consists of graduate students at SFU, conduct much of the day-to-day research. For years, RAs have…
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Updates from student and faculty organizations C19 Coalition representative, Alison Wick, provided some background on the recently formed advocacy group. The Coalition was formed as an alliance between the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), the Graduate Student Society (GSS), and…
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Discussion with SFU senior leaders about student services in COVID-19 The GSS meeting began with a presentation followed by discussion with Rummana Khan Hemani (SFU’s Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Students & International) and Erin Biddlecombe (Senior Director, Office of Vice-Provost…
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In light of COVID-19, members of the SFU community have come together in support of one another through a group known as the SFU C19 Coalition. Formed in March of 2020, the SFU C19 Coalition consists of a combination of…
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