Thousands of undergraduate students at Western University are writing exams this month without their graduate teaching assistants and a union representative says concerns are being raised on the impact that could have academically.
Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Local 610 President Pardis Baha said the union has heard complaints from undergraduate students that “the proctors Western has hired as scab labour are unable to answer their questions during exams.”
“Unfortunately, rather than putting their efforts into coming to a fair agreement with us and to get us back to work, Western has put a lot of resources and a lot of their effort behind encouraging strike breaking from our members and to contract out our work to under-qualified staff,” Baha said.
As well, Baha said some students have raised concerns about graduate teaching assistants that they’ve spent the whole term with not grading their final exams.
“What we do is highly specialized, and our members spend the entire semester building relationships with undergraduate students and getting to know them and understanding their learning needs… you can’t have someone just come in at the end of the term and be able to do that job without the history with the student.”
As well, Baha said some students have raised concerns about graduate teaching assistants that they’ve spent the whole term with not grading their final exams.
“What we do is highly specialized, and our members spend the entire semester building relationships with undergraduate students and getting to know them and understanding their learning needs… you can’t have someone just come in at the end of the term and be able to do that job without the history with the student.”
Roughly 2,000 PSAC Local 610 members began striking April 11 and pickets are set up at entrances across the university campus. Every in-person undergraduate exam is impacted as each one would normally have graduate teaching assistants proctoring, Baha explained.
“Western’s actions are undermining the work of thousands of students at a critical time,” Craig Reynolds, PSAC Ontario regional executive vice-president said in a statement.
“It’s time we get back to the table and settle this strike with a fair deal.”
The University Students’ Council would not comment, with a spokesperson stating it “does not engage in labour disputes.”
In response to a request for comment, Western University said it respects the right to labour action but is also “committed to ensuring undergraduate students finish the academic term by April 30. The university has plans to ensure every exam moves forward in a responsible, safe and inclusive way that emphasizes academic integrity and standards.”
Baha said the union has the same priorities and is also looking to see undergraduates “well supported in their education” and to see their exams proceed with “integrity” and “the appropriate support.”
The local president added that the two sides last met with a mediator on April 10 and spent over 10 hours at the table but were unable to reach an agreement. The strike began just after midnight April 11.
Baha said the union is “ready and willing” to resume talks “as soon as Western is ready and willing to listen to our concerns.”