Concordia Invigilators Mobilize for a Living Wage

MONTREAL, Aug. 30, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The invigilators' union at Concordia University (TRAC) is launching a campaign to demand a living wage for its members who currently earn minimum wage.

The TRAC union, which represents the University's 400 or so invigilators, has been in good faith negotiations for an initial collective agreement for this unit for more than 20 months. Unfortunately, the employer's lack of a serious wage offer forced TRAC to initiate arbitration proceedings. The employer's latest offer was viewed as insulting, proposing a meagre $11.43/hour for invigilators and $12.19/hour for supervisor-invigilators.

"Even though the minimum wage increases to $11.75/hour next May, Concordia is offering its invigilators $11.43/hour. If this is a joke, it's a bad one!" exclaims TRAC President Alexandre St-Onge-Perron.

Yesterday, as part of its awareness campaign, the union posted a video on the important work performed by invigilators, with a second one to come next week. Other mobilization strategies will also be used to make the employer and the public aware of the need to pay invigilators a living wage.

"Concordia University boasts about being one of the best employers in Montreal. That certainly isn't the experience of the invigilators who work there. By refusing to offer a living wage to all its employees, Concordia is letting down a segment of its community and tarnishing its reputation," says St-Onge-Perron.

Union members are encouraged to say what they think on social media using the hashtag #WeAreConcordiaU and to take part in the upcoming mobilization activities. TRAC is also urging the University administrators to give some thought to the reality of living on $11.43/hour.

TRAC's demands are supported by the other university invigilators' unions: Syndicat des étudiant·e·s salarié·e·s de l'Université de Montréal (SÉSUM), Syndicat des étudiant-e-s employé-e-s de l'UQAM (SÉTUE), Association pour une solidarité syndicale de l'École Polytechnique (ASSEP), Syndicat des Travailleuses et Travailleurs Étudiants et Postdoctoraux de l'Université Laval (STEP), Association syndicale des travailleurs étudiants et travailleuses étudiantes de l'UQTR-AFPC (ASTRE).

About TRAC

TRAC is a local of PSAC-Quebec. It represents annually some 2,000 research assistants, teaching assistants and invigilators who work at Concordia University.

About PSAC-Quebec

PSAC represents more than 180,000 members across Canada. PSAC-Quebec is affiliated with the FTQ and has more than 40,000 members, including federal public sector workers and 25,000 Quebec university employees.

SOURCE Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada, région du Québec

Patrick Leblanc, Regional Political Communications Officer, 514-706-5997 | [email protected]

Related Links

www.afpcquebec.com