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.
- Communications
- Social Justice
- Education
- Finance
- Grievance
- Internal Relations
- International TA Issues (temporarily inactive)
- Sessional Issues (temporarily inactive)
Communications: The Communications Committee produces the TSSU newsletter, special bulletins and the TSSU website. The committee is currently trying to develop a dynamic communications strategy for the Union and is always looking for new ideas and energy. The TSSU is always looking for members willing to lend a hand with writing short pieces for the newsletter, proofreading, editing, layout, design, artwork and website maintenance.
Social Justice Committee: The TSSU's newest committee, Social Justice (SJ) develops campagins, endorses projects/causes, and recommends $1000 in contributions each semseter to small groups that challenge the root causes of poverty, inequality and injustice (all subject to approval by the General Membership). The SJ Committee largely replaces both the Donations and the Membership Mobilization Committees.
Education: If TSSU members don’t know their rights, they won’t know when those rights are being violated. The Education Committee hopes to make our rights, protections and benefits known to all members, so that we can take full advantage of them and in this way create healthier working environments for all of us. The committee can organize educational campaigns, host workshops and events or provide funding to send members to conferences and courses related to Union issues.
Finance: Are you interested in how budgets work? Do you have a knack for budgeting? Perhaps you would like to be involved firsthand with TSSU finances. The Finance Committee is actively seeking members to assist in researching and setting the yearly TSSU budget, in addition to keeping track of the union's investments and funds.
Grievance: The Grievance Committee is designed to give the Chief Steward help with ongoing grievances. This committee ensures that the rights of members on the job are respected, representing the interests of members with respect to their working conditions and ensuring that the employer follows the Collective Agreement. Committee members may be involved in doing legal research, in discussing possible strategies for pursuing a case and in gathering necessary information.
Internal Relations: The Internal Relations (IR) Committee is responsible for establishing and updating the By-laws and policies of the TSSU. In addition, IR is responsible for hearing and making recommendations that involve disputes within the Union between any of the union members, including any and all employees or salaried officers, through the dispute resolution policy.
International TA Issues: International students who work as TAs and/or TMs have unique needs and experiences. This committee was born out of the need to find a place to discuss these issues and try to develop strategies to increase support for ITAs and to create better working and learning environments through education campaigns and events, policy recommendations and lobbying of the University.
Sessional Issues: This committee is currently looking to find ways to better respond to the unique needs and experiences of Sessional Instructors. Some issues that this committee has looked into include: job postings, improved transparency in hiring, finding a balance between job security and openings for new teachers, between long term sessionals who need to make a living and graduate students seeking invaluable teaching experience and to ensure a healthy and fair work environment for all. The TSSU is also currently working with the SFU Faculty Association to organize Sessional Forums twice a year to come together to discuss some of the common concerns of Sessional Instructors and Sessional Lecturers and to develop strategies to deal with these concerns.