The University works because we do
As soon as you receive an appointment as a Teaching Assistant, Tutor-Marker, Sessional or Language Instructor, you automatically become a member of the TSSU.
The TSSU is a labour union that negotiates with the University to establish rules governing your working conditions. These include a number of benefits and protections for you as a worker, and a number of guidelines the University must follow in administering your contract, pay and benefits.
The TSSU invites all TAs, TMs, Sessionals, and Language Instructors to attend our General Membership meetings for the Spring 2009 semester. Come out to discuss issues that affect our union and find out what you can do to pitch in. Food and refreshments are provided.
Wednesday, January 28
12:00 – 1:30pm
Burnaby Campus Maggie Benson
Tuesday, February 24
4:00 – 5:30pm
Harbour Centre Campus 2200
Monday, March 23
3:00 – 4:30pm
Burnaby Campus Maggie Benson
last update as of: January 23, 2008
The following pages outline some of the most common questions and concerns that members have about their rights and responsibilities. This is by no means an exhaustive guide, if you have more questions or need greater clarification, please feel free to contact us for more help. All page numbers refer to the May 1 2004 – April 30 2010 collective agreement. Please scroll down for the answers to the following questions:
Our Union is autonomous and independent; it is not a local of any larger organization. We support other organizations, and we are supported in turn, but we answer to nobody but ourselves. We depend entirely on members (some of the most skilled and capable people in BC) to run our Union. Through our membership, we are strong. Without it, we will fail.
Certified in 1978, the Teaching Support Staff Union represents teaching assistants (TAs), tutor markers (TMs), sessional instructors (SIs) and language instructors (LIs) at Simon Fraser University. Since December 2004, we also represent the English Language and Culture (ELC) and the Interpretation and Translation Program (ITP). The Union functions as the sole bargaining agent for these employees during contract negotiations and represents any and all members in work-related conflicts and problems.
The TSSU began as Local 6 of the Association of College and University Employees (AUCE 6). AUCE was a feminist trade union movement which developed out of the Vancouver Women’s Caucus in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The feminist roots of TSSU make it strikingly different from more conventional unions: both AUCE and TSSU rejected the tradition in the Canadian union movement that tended towards hierarchical structure and centralization. It also worked to organize large numbers of women working in underpaid positions, mostly as clerical and teaching support staff. All of the other AUCE unions have joined up with larger unions, such as the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), but we have maintained our independent status.
OUR STRUCTURE
Chief Steward (Salaried Officer): Scott Drake
Organizer (Salaried Officer): Sean Carleton
Coordinator (Salaried Officer): Soizic Wadge
Chair: Rachel Elfenbein
Secretary: Emily Gordon
Treasurer: Dina Dexter
Ex-Officio: vacant
Trustee I and Privacy Officer: Titi Zhong
Trustee II and Privacy Officer: Saswati Chakladar
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Grievance Officer (staff): Karen Dean
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Communications Commissioner: Jordan Barnes
Education Commissioner: Wyatt Skovron
Teaching Support Staff Union
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
AQ 5129 / 5130
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
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Chief Steward / Organizer / Coordinator: 778.782.4735
Chief Steward, Scott Drake: chief_steward (at) tssu.ca
Organizer, Sean Carleton: organizer (at) tssu.ca
Coordinator, Soizic Wadge: coordinator (at) tssu.ca
Grievance Officer, Karen Dean: 778.782.4695
kdean (at) tssu.ca
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fax: 778.782.5369