Statement of Solidarity with CUPE 3906 and Academic Workers at McMaster University

The Solidarity & Social Justice Committee (SSJC) of the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) stands in solidarity with CUPE 3906 and Academic Workers at McMaster in their efforts to negotiate a just deal.

Since May of this year, CUPE 3906 has been bargaining with McMaster University to reach a new agreement for two of their units: Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Research Assistants (RAs) in lieu, and Postdoctoral Fellows (postdocs). In June, Doug Ford’s government introduced Bill 124, legislation which interferes with collective bargaining rights and seeks to cap total compensation of workers at a meagre 1% per year over 3 years. Since then, and despite early progress at the negotiating table, McMaster has withdrawn proposed increases and replaced them with concessions that include cuts to wages and benefits. These cuts leave these members’ salaries well below the rate of inflation, and they do not address the other concerns, including expanded training and an increased salary floor for postdocs.

TAs, RAs, and postdocs are critical parts of the university. Our work makes the university work. Our compensation, therefore, must reflect our immeasurable contribution to the functioning of the academic community, including but not limited to a fair wage and benefit package. As such, the SSJC echoes CUPE 3906’s call for McMaster to:

In solidarity,

Solidarity & Social Justice Committee

Teaching Support Staff Union

ssjc@tssu.ca

Statement of Solidarity with the SFU Trans Community in Light of Recent Vandalism

Over the past few months, the Simon Fraser Student Society’s Out On Campus (OOC) has run a campaign titled We Just Need to Pee. This campaign, which includes posters in every washroom on each SFU campus, serves as an important reminder that everyone – including trans people – deserves to use the washroom relevant to their their gender identity without ridicule, questioning, or harassment. It was launched in response to an incident that took place at SFU where a student, who was attending a memorial service for murdered transgender people, was told that they were “in the wrong washroom.”

It is vital that every person on campus deserves to feel safe, valid, and welcomed. OOC’s campaign is a friendly reminder of the importance of having a safe space for basic human needs. Although they have received positive feedback for their campaign, there have been several recent instances of violent and hateful vandalism of their posters. We understand that the continual defacement of their posters has been getting worse lately. This type of messaging presents a safety issue for everyone on campus, including students, teaching staff, and other SFU community members.

The Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) condemns the vandalism and harassment targeting trans people and affirm our support of the We Just Need to Pee postering campaign. We also stand in firm solidarity with trans people at SFU and elsewhere who deserve to be themselves without discrimination and abuse. Please report any vandalized posters, and reach out to OOC if you are in need of their resources, including peer support and crisis referrals:

   SFSS Out On Campus

   778-782-5933

   ooc@sfss.ca

   www.sfss.ca/ooc

In solidarity,

Teaching Support Staff Union

tssu@tssu.ca

Resisting Attacks on Palestinian Rights

Join the Solidarity & Social Justice Committee and BDS Vancouver–Coast Salish Territories for a discussion centred around recent developments in the repression of Palestinian rights under the guise of 'anti-semitism'.

The event will be held from 7 to 9pm on Wednesday, October 2nd at SFU's Harbour Centre campus (HC 7000).

"Presentations will analyse recent measures taken by governments outside of Israel to repress Palestinian voices and criminalize Palestinian political activity and Palestine solidarity under the guise of 'combating antisemitism'. Two cases will be highlighted. First, the recent motion at Vancouver City Council which would have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) of antisemitism which in its examples and guide very explicitly equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Second, the move by the German government to ban Palestinian journalist Khaled Barakat, an advocate for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, from speaking at any political event or being in a group of more than 10 people.

Following the presentations will be a facilitated discussion on how Palestinians and Palestine solidarity organizations can resist these moves which attempt to erase the Palestinian narrative, suppress the growing BDS movement, and isolate Palestinians living in the Occupied Territories, the Gaza Strip and inside the borders of the Israel from international solidarity and support.

You can find more information at the Facebook event page, or email ssjc@tssu.ca.